BAUHINIA ACUMINATA. 



MOUNTAIN EBONY. 



NATURAL ORDER, C.ESALPINE^. 



|HE plant now before us belongs to a very extensive genus, all the 

 varieties of which are remarkable for the peculiar form of their 

 leaves, which are like two oval leaflets united at the base. Fer- 

 minger tells us that the genus, "in consequence of this twin-like 

 union, has been fancifully named after the two brothers Bauhin." They 

 were well-known French navigators. The variety depicted in the plate is a 

 shrub or small tree about ten feet high, nearly always in blossom, being a 

 pleasing object with its numerous pure white flowers. 



There is little resemblance between the flowers of the various species 

 of this extensive genus, but they are all exquisitely beautiful, both in colour 

 and form. 



" Bauhinia Variegata," called by the natives " Kuchnar," is a large 

 tree, having a trunk about the size of a man's body ; it blossoms in 

 Februar}', and is then an object of great splendour. The flowers are 

 purple and white, large and handsome, and having a great resemblance 

 to those of a pelargonium. Many of the species have sulphur-coloured 

 flowers speckled with purple. 



Both medicinally and economically the Bauhinia plants are invalu- 

 able. " Bauhinia Tomentosa " Drury mentions as being used by doctors, 

 while the leaves of various species are also valuable for a decoction made 

 from them. The seeds are eaten, and said to be a tonic. 



One of the n;ost remarkable of this genus is, I think, " Bauhinia 

 Vahlii." It is a climber of great extent, covering tree after tree with its 

 large leaves, until a whole wood or " Tope " becomes shaded by it. The 

 flowers are cream-coloured with purple spots, and hang in spiral-like 

 bunches. The trunk of this species was the thickness of a man's thigh 

 in our garden, and the leaves I have sometimes seen nearly a foot in 

 diameter. 



" In the northern districts of the ' Circars ' the leaves are sold in the 

 bazaars for various purposes, such as plates and packages. Ropes are 

 made from the bark. The natives boil and then beat it, which makes it 

 soft and pliable. The ropes have been occasionally used for suspension 

 bridges over the mountain torrents in the Himalayan valleys." (Rogh. 

 Fib. Plants.) 



I find Roxburgh has described this variety under the name of 

 " Bauhinia Racemosa," and says : " It is a native of all the mountainous 

 parts all over India, where it runs over the highest trees." He also 

 mentions that the seeds are flat, smooth, and brown. They are eaten 

 'raw ; when ripe the taste is like that of cashew nuts. 



