Bauhinia foraminifer var. foraminifer

Primary tabs

Bauhinia foraminifer var. foraminifer

Description

Low, scrambling, tendrilled climber; young shoots slender, glabrous with short tendrils. Leaves consisting of two free or almost free leaflets; stipules ovate, acute, c. 1.5 mm; petioles glabrescent, very slender to filiform, 1.5-3 cm, continuing in a short mucro; leaflets ovate-oblong, asymmetrical, tips rounded to subacute, usually 3-nerved, 2.5-6.5 by 1.5-2.5 cm, glabrous on upper surface, lower often glaucous, sparsely brownish to reddish pubescent, more dense on the nerves. Inflorescences lateral and terminal corymbs with a 2-6 cm long, glabrous axis; pedicels glabrous, filiform, 3-5 cm long; bracts triangular, 1.3 mm; bracteoles smaller, inserted about the middle of the pedicel. Petals white, lanceolate to obovate, with undulate margin, 12-15 mm long with a distinct, 2-3 mm long claw; outside sparsely reddish hairy at the median zone. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments glabrous, 5-7 mm; anthers broader than long, 1.5 mm; staminodes 4-7, filiform, varying in length, shorter than or as long as the fertile stamens. Ovary glabrous, c. 3 mm; stipe short, 1-2 mm, with a few hairs at base; style glabrous, as long as ovary; stigma small, peltate.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo (Sarawak present), only found near Kuching present
Malesia: Borneo (Sarawak, only found near Kuching).

Notes

This variety has repeatedly been collected from the Kuching area where it is evidently not rare. In one collection the leaflets are joined in their lower third.