Bauhinia purpurea L. 1753, commonly called Orchid Tree, Butterfly Tree or Poor Man’s Orchid, is a tropical, flowering tree, native to India, China and South East Asia.

The orchid tree reach heights up to about 6-9 meters, the crom get a size of 8-9 meters in diameter. The delightfully fragrant, conspicuous fFlowers of the fast growing tree get a size of about 8-15 cm in diameter and can vary in colors from white, pink to purple. Flowering period: Autumn - Winter. The genus Bauhinia belongs to the bean family (Fabaceae) and has been established by the father of modern taxonomy, Swedish botanist Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778) in 1753. The genus has been named in honour to the Swiss botanists Johann Bauhin (1541–1613) and Gaspard Bauhin (1560-1624), sons of the French physician Jean Bauhin (1511–1582). Parts of the tropical plant are used in natural medicine, the flowers are edible and used as an ingredient for Indian curries.

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Image: Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea)