orchid tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• mountain-ebony
• orchidtree
• Camel's foot tree
• mountain ebony

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phanera variegata
• Perlebia variegata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is specifically positioned in the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its membership in the genus Bauhinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several different continents and regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence can be documented specifically within Spain. Its distribution also extends to the Macaronesian islands, including Madeira. Moving toward the African continent, it is found throughout West Tropical Africa. Within this African region, it is specifically located in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bauhinia variegata is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, thriving across a broad altitudinal spectrum. This species is found at elevations ranging from 0 m to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit various ecological niches from lowland tropical regions to higher montane zones. It typically flourishes in well-drained soils and is often found in open woodlands, forest edges, and disturbed areas where sunlight is abundant. Its ability to tolerate varying moisture levels and temperature gradients across its significant elevational range facilitates its distribution in many subtropical and tropical landscapes, where it plays a role in supporting local pollinator communities.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Bauhinia variegata is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its habitat. As a phanerophyte, it develops significant woody structures that elevate its photosynthetic organs well above the ground level, distinguishing its growth habit from lower-growing life forms. The plant follows a deciduous pattern, undergoing a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage, a process that typically aligns with specific climatic shifts or dry periods to manage moisture and resource conservation.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bauhinia variegata is characterized by a woody growth form that typically presents as either a tree or a shrub. As a terrestrial and independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 10 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 12 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bauhinia variegata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under standard environmental conditions. Its structural integrity and mechanical properties are reflected in a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 597 mg/cm³, a value that indicates the degree of lignification and wood density within its vascular tissues. Furthermore, in terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

597 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bauhinia variegata is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and a specialized pollination strategy. The plant typically enters its flowering period in March and concludes this phase in April, though the timing can remain variable across different environments. The reproductive process relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically involving insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a measurable mass profile; the seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.2645 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.22883 g to a maximum of 0.3259 g.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.3259 g

Seed mass mean:

0.2645016665 g

Seed mass min:

0.22883 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bauhinia variegata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, seed.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry
2. Acta biologica Hungarica
3. Computers in biology and medicine
4. PloS one

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Natural product research

Seed

1. Journal of protein chemistry

Chemicals

Bauhinia variegata has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, kaempferol, Anthocyanins, Cyanidin, Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside.

Flavonoids

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Fitoterapia
3. Acta biologica Hungarica
4. Journal of separation science

kaempferol

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Acta biologica Hungarica

Anthocyanins

1. Frontiers in plant science

Cyanidin

1. Frontiers in plant science

Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside

1. Frontiers in plant science

Dehydropipernonaline

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Delphinidin

1. Frontiers in plant science

FLAVANONE

1. Natural product research

Malvidin

1. Frontiers in plant science

Malvidin 3-O-Galactoside

1. Frontiers in plant science

Activities

Bauhinia variegata has 10 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antinociceptive.

Antioxidant

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
2. Phytochemistry
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Fitoterapia
5. Acta biologica Hungarica

Cytotoxic

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Current pharmaceutical design

Anticancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Antidiabetic

1. Phytochemistry

Antinociceptive

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Cardioprotective

1. Fitoterapia

Fibrinolytic

1. Fitoterapia

Hepatoprotective

1. Fitoterapia

Nephroprotective

1. Fitoterapia

Tonic

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Bauhinia variegata has 28 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus, skin diseases, ulcers, Micrococcus luteus, Oxidative stress.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Skin diseases

1. Natural product research
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Ulcers

1. Natural product research
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Micrococcus luteus

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Sars-cov-2

1. Computers in biology and medicine

Antioxidant

1. Phytochemistry

Breast cancer

1. Natural product research

Cancer

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Colon cancer

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Bauhinia variegata has 9 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dried ethanol extracts, aqueous and methanol extract, flowering buds, herbal extracts, hydro-ethanolic extracts obtained from dried and fresh leaves.

Dried ethanol extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Aqueous and methanol extract

1. Computers in biology and medicine

Flowering buds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Herbal extracts

1. Journal of separation science

Hydro-ethanolic extracts obtained from dried and fresh leaves

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Hydro-ethanolic leaf extracts

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Leaf extracts

1. PloS one

Plant extracts

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Roots

1. Natural product research