Bauhinia semibifida var. semibifida

Primary tabs

Bauhinia semibifida var. semibifida

Description

Tendrilled climber, young branches brownish pubescent, later glabrous. Leaves: stipules auriculate to orbicular, c. 5 by 2 mm, glabrous or nearly so; petiole 2-6 cm, pubescent to glabrous, lamina obovate-orbicular, 4-11 cm diam.; (9-)ll-13-nerved; bifid 1/4-2/5, tips of lobes obtuse (to acute), base cordate; upper surface glabrous, lower glabrous to glabrescent. Inflorescences terminal or lateral, short or long racemes with pubescent axis; pedicels pubescent, 3-6 cm; bracts lanceolate, silky puberulous, 5-8 mm, very early caducous; bracteoles linear-acute, c. 8 mm. Petals white turning yellow, unequal, elliptic to oblong, glabrous except for the pubescent claw, and sometimes sparsely hirsute externally along the median line, 2-3 (-3.5) cm long, claw 2-5 mm. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments 2.5-3 cm, glabrous, stout; anthers oblong, 1 cm; staminodes 2 or 3, small, filiform. Stipe of ovary c. 3 mm, ovary c. 10 mm, style stout, c. 5 mm, all entirely densely brown silky tomentose; style increasing towards the very large, oblique, peltate stigma, up to 5 mm across, much lengthening after anthesis. Seeds c. 6, flat, varying in size.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present); Sumatera (Sumatera present)
Malesia: Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes.. One of the most widespread species in the genus.

Uses

Powder of roots used for medicinal purposes.