Bauhinia vahlii

Common Name :Maloo creeper Botanical & Cultivar name :Bauhinia vahlii Family : Fabaceae

Bauhinia vahlii is a largest woody creeper that can climb up to 98 feet (30 m) with large cluster of 35 white flowers. It is considered to be an enemy of trees. As it would swallow up trees it is named as enemy of trees.

Order – Fabales

Subfamily - Caesalpinioideae

Genus - Bauhinia, Phanera

Species - vahlii

Synonyms - Phanera vahlii, Bauhinia racemosa

Origin/Native - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indian subcontinent

Category- Woody Creeper

Life Cycle - Perennial

Height - Climbing up to 98 feet tall

Found In - Nepal, Kashmir, Pakistan, Sikkim, Himalayas

Flowering Season - April, May, June

Flowers - Large, White and Peach color, Hairy, Clustered, 5 petals

Fruits - woody with flat dark browm seeds, Pods contains 10 to 12 seeds

Stems - woody, thick skin, Hairy

Soil Requirement - Well drained, rocky

Leaves - Large, Green foliage

Uses - Medicinal

Assamese - Nak Kati Lewa

Tamil - Kattumandarai, Mandarai, Adda

Sanskrit - Malanjhana, Asmantaka

Uses - Ayurveda, Medicinal

Maloo creeper swallowed tree

Maloo creeper

Bauhinia vahlii flower buds

Phanera vahlii close up view

Photographs: Guna Selvi Camera: Nikon D40x Location : Lalbagh botanical garden, Bangalore, Karnataka, India