Trees, to 15 m. Branches pubes­cent or glabrescent. Leaves unifoliolate; stipules broadly lanceolate, 1–2 mm; petiole 3–4 cm, glabrous; blade broadly ovate to suborbiculate, 60–160 × 60–160 mm, 2-lobate 1/4–1/3 length, base cor­date, 11–13-veined, apex of each lobe rounded, surfaces sparsely puberulous abaxially, glaucous, glabrous adaxially. Racemes 3–8-flowered; mostly subterminal; bract and bracteoles triangular, minute. Pedicels 0.5 cm. Flowers: buds fusiform, 3–4 mm; hypanthium tubular, 15 mm; petals white or purple, obovate, subequal, 40–55 mm; fertile stamens 5; filaments shortly connate basally with staminodes, 20–40 mm; anthers 7 mm; staminodes 1–5, 2–3 mm; gynoecium arcuate, nearly equaling stamens; ovary pubescent (mainly on sutures), style and gynophore glabrous; stigma capitate. Legumes: stipe 15 mm; linear, 200–300 × 20–25 mm. Seeds 10–25, brown, subglobose, 1–15 × 15 mm; funicular aril lobes subequal, 1 mm.

Phenology: Flowering fall.
Habitat: introduced also in tropical areas worldwide..
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Fla., Asia, introduced also in tropical areas worldwide.

Discussion

Bauhinia variegata is widely cultivated worldwide and is often naturalized, as in southern Florida. It is listed as a Category I invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.