Bauhinia monandra

Bauhinia monandra

Synonyms

Bauhinia persiehii F.Muell

Common name

Bauhinia, Pink; Butterfly Flower; Pink Bauhinia

Origin

Native to Madagascar. In the past the origin of this species was unknown, and it has erroneously been described as originating from south-eastern Asia (e.g. Myanmar) and tropical South America.

Ecology

Altitudinal range probably small, from near sea level to 100 m. Grows in disturbed areas particularly in gallery forest.

Habitat

A weed of drier sites with relatively poor soils and has also been observed to grow on river levees and in dense riparian vegetation (i.e. along waterways).

Description

Habit

A small tree (growing up to 7.5 m tall) which loses its leaves during the dry season (i.e. it is deciduous).

Stems and Leaves

The older stems are covered with a smooth grey coloured bark. These stems are also covered with numerous small darker spots (i.e. lenticels). Younger stems are almost hairless (i.e. glabrescent) or have some rusty coloured hairs (i.e. rusty pubescent).

The simple leaves (7-20 cm long and 7-20 cm wide) are alternately arranged along the stems and borne on stalks (i.e. petioles) 4-6 cm long. They have somewhat heart-shaped (i.e. sub-cordate) bases and are split

at the tips into two lobes, with the split usually being quite shallow (sometimes almost halfway to base). They are also folded along the central vein (i.e. midrib) and therefore appear similar to a pair of butterfly wings. These leaves have hairless (i.e. glabrous) upper surfaces, but their are usually some hairs present along the veins on the their undersides.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are borne in small clusters in the leaf forks (i.e. in short axillary racemes) and individual flowers have very short stalks (i.e. pedicels) only 2-5-4 mm long. These flowers have five large, spreading, petals (each about 40-55 mm long and 20-30 mm wide) and a single large curved stamen (there are usually also five tiny rudimentary stamen-like structures present, about 3 mm long, which are called staminodes). The sepals (15-22 mm long) are fused into a green tube (i.e. calyx tube) that is hairy (i.e. pubescent) and splits open on one side when the flower opens. Four of the petals are similar while the other petal is different (i.e. the petals are dimorphic). The four similar lower petals are pale pink or whitish, mottled with numerous tiny darker reddish-pink or purple spots, and are wider nearer their tips (i.e. obovate). The single upper petal is often somewhat yellowish in colour, with more prominent reddish coloured markings, and is usually wider nearer its base (i.e. ovate). Flowering occurs during late spring and summer (i.e. from October to January).

The fruit is a large, elongated, and flattened pod (15-22 cm long and 2-3 cm wide) containing about 10-20 seeds. These fruit are somewhat leathery in nature and pale brown to dark brown in colour. The seeds (about 10 mm long long) are flattened (i.e. compressed), egg-shaped in outline (i.e. ovate), and either dull brown or black in colour. Fruit are present from summer through to spring (i.e. from January to October).

Reproduction and Dispersal

This species reproduces by seed. Its seeds are spread when they are ingested and expelled by birds and other animals. They are also dispersed by water, particularly from ornamental plantings located near waterways, and in dumped garden waste.

Distinguishing Features

A small tree that usually loses its leaves during the dry season.

it’s simple leaves have two lobes and are folded in the centre (i.e. they resemble a pair of butterfly wings).

Its showy flowers have five pinkish petals mottled with darker reddish-purple, one of which is more colourful than the others.

Its fruit is a large, elongated, pod (15-22 cm long).

Uses

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds