Common Name: Mountain Ebony

General Information

Bauhinia variegata is a fast-growing, attractive, deciduous tree with a dense, spreading crown; it can grow up to 12 metres tall[, ]. The tree often has more than one main bole; the bole is short and often crooked[].
A multipurpose tree, it is gathered from the wild for food, medicine and many other commodities. The tree is extremely handsome in flower and is often grown as an ornamental, hedge plant or street tree in tropical areas[, , ]. It is valued particularly for its showy fragrant, pink, purple or white flowers[].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Southern China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Open valleys with good loamy soil at elevations of 150 - 1800 metres[]. Common in deciduous bamboo forests and open areas, especially on limestone[]. Essentially a tree of mixed deciduous forests, often of a somewhat dry type[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Mountain ebony is a plant of tropical and subtropical climates with hot, dry summers and mild winters. It grows best at an altitude up to 1,800 metres with a mean maximum temperature in the range 30 - 42°c and a mean minimum temperature in the range 7 - 14°c[]. Plants can experience occasional temperatures down to -2°c in their native range[]. The mean annual rainfall should be in the range 500 - 2,550mm[].
Prefers a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, requiring a position in full sun[, , ]. The tree is fairly resistant to drought but susceptible to fires[]
Some care should be taken before introducing the plant into new areas because it can become invasive[].
A fast-growing tree - under ideal conditions one year old seedlings can attain a height of more than 2 metres[].
The tree starts flowering at a very early age of 2 - 3 years[].
The tree coppices well and can stand heavy lopping fairly well[].
There are some named varieties[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - boiled and eaten as a vegetable, or pickled[, , , ].

Flowers and flower buds - boiled and eaten as a vegetable, or pickled[, , , ].

Fruits - boiled and eaten as a vegetable, or pickled[, , ].

Seed - much appreciated[].

Medicinal

The bark is alterative, anthelmintic, astringent and tonic[, , ]. The juice of the bark is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea and other stomach disorders[]. A paste of the bark is useful in the treatment of cuts and wounds, skin diseases (including leprosy), scrofula and ulcers[, , ].

The dried buds are used in the treatment of piles, dysentery, diarrhoea and worms[].

The juice of the flowers is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and other stomach disorders[].

The root is used as an antidote to snake poison[]. A decoction of the root is used to treat dyspepsia[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental hedge[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins. It is used for dyeing in various shades of brown[, , ].

The young green bark detaches easily from the tree and yields a fibre that is used for cordage[, ].

The tree yields a gum[, ].

The seeds are made up of 20% endocarp and 80% kernel. They yield 16.5% of a pale yellow, fatty oil on extraction with petroleum ether but only 6.1% in an hydraulic press[].

The wood is brown, moderately hard and heavy with an attractive grain[, ]. It is used for house construction and making household and agricultural implements[, , , ].
One of the main uses of the tree is as fuel. The calorific value is 4 800 kcal/kg[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water then sow in situ[]. This is more successful than growing in a nursery bed and planting out when one year old[]. If sowing in a nursery seedbed, then the plants should be placed in their final positions whilst they are still small - they can attain a height of 1 metre within 1 month of germinating, with roots 50cm long[]. The seed germinates readily within 4 - 10 days, showing a high degree of fertility even after 12 months storage[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, with the leaves removed, in moist sand July/August in a frame[]. Gentle bottom heat is usually required. Cuttings root only with difficulty[].
Layering.

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