Bauhinia_racemosa

<i>Bauhinia racemosa</i>

Bauhinia racemosa

Species of legume

Bauhinia racemosa, commonly known as the bidi leaf tree, is a rare medicinal species of flowering shrub with religious significance. It is a small crooked tree with drooping branches that grows 3–5 metres (10–16 ft) tall and flowers between February and May. It is native to tropical Southeast Asia.

Quick Facts Bauhinia racemosa, Scientific classification ...

Description

The tree's leaves are relatively small and wide, with dimensions ranging from 2 to 5 cm in length and 2.5 to 6.3 cm in width. A cleft divides each leaf into two rounded globes. The flowers appear in terminal racemes, measuring 5 to 12.5 cm in length. The pods are stalked, smooth, and turgid, featuring a blunt apex and a tapered base. Ripe pods exhibit a dark brown color, are indehiscent, and house 12 to 20 seeds. The bark is scabrous, displaying vertical cracks, and has a bluish-black hue. The tree blossoms between March and June, and its pods mature in November-December, persisting on the tree for several additional months.[1]

Ecology

The immature seeds of the tree are consumed by Grizzled giant squirrel[2]

Religious significance

Main articles: Vijayadashami and Dussehra

In Hindu families it is customary to exchange leaves of the Aapta tree on the Hindu festive day of Dussehra. An act known as exchanging Gold—pointing to the special significance of the plant on that particular day. This is also why the tree is often referred to as Sonpatta (literal translation: leaves of gold).[3]

Other uses

Main article: Beedi

The leaves are used in the production of beedi, a thin Indian and Sri Lankan cigarillo.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    N. H. Ravindranath; D. M. Bhat; Vidya S. Swamy (2004). Nursery Manual for Forest Tree Species. Universities Press (India) Pvt. Limited. p. 80. ISBN 9788173714559.
  2. [2]
    Šmejkal, Marek; Thomas, Kiran; PO Prof, PO (December 2023). "Feeding ecology of a lesser-known arboreal giant: Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura), Southern Western Ghats, India". Ecology and Evolution. 13. doi:10.1002/ece3.10765. PMC 10701183.
  3. [3]
    Phalak, Paresh Prashant. "The Real Gold". Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. [4]
    "Bidi Leaf Tree". Flowers of India.

Media related to Piliostigma racemosum at Wikimedia Commons

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