Bauhinia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia

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Bauhinia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia

Description

Large tendrilled climber; young branches rusty woolly and grooved. Leaves: stipules minute, rounded, early caducous; petioles rusty puberulous, 1-5 cm; lamina broadly ovate to orbicular, up to 15 cm; 9-11-nerved; entire to emarginate or shallowly bifid with a wide, deltoid sinus; tip of lobes acute to obtuse; base deeply cordate; upper surface glabrous, glossy, lower first puberulous, later glabrous except sometimes on the nerves. Inflorescences multiflowered, ± dense panicles composed of corymbose racemes, axis rusty pubescent; pedicels slender, up to 3 cm; bracts narrowly lanceolate, up to 3 mm; bracteoles minute, (usually) inserted about the middle of the pedicel. Petals unequal, orange turning red, obovate, tapering towards the short claw, 8-15 mm, margin crenulate, outside densely rusty-hirsute. Stamens 3 fertile, filaments filiform, hairy at base, slightly longer than petals; anthers ellipsoid, c. 1 mm; staminodes 2, minute. Ovary subsessile, rusty woolly; style in upper 2/3 glabrous; stigma capitate. Seeds 5-8, flat, ovate-orbicular, c. 2 cm diam.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Sumatera (Sumatera present), Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra (Thailand) southwards present
Malesia: Sumatra, Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra (Thailand) southwards

Taxonomy

The type of Phanera bicornuta Miq. (U) consists of two sterile branches, some loose leaves, a loose pod and one seed. This specimen was treated by De Wit under Phanera bidentata as subsp. bicornuta. Nothing in the material, however, suggests that this specimen belongs there; most certainly it belongs to Bauhinia integrifolia, even Miquel writes in the protologue that it is close to Phanera polyantha (= Bauhinia integrifolia).

Uses

Bast fibres; sap locally as medicine.