Bauhinia phoenicea
| Bauhinia phoenicea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Bauhinia |
| Species: | B. phoenicea
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| Binomial name | |
| Bauhinia phoenicea | |
| Synonyms | |
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Phanera phoenicea (Wight & Arn.)Benth. | |
Bauhinia phoenicea is a liana endemic to the Western Ghats of India.[1][2]
Description
This species can grow as liana or a small shrub up to 10 meters high. The leaves are simple and alternate. The flowers are brick red in color. The seed pods are oblong shaped, brownish and hairy with 14–18 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The seeds are dark brown in color.[1][3]
Distribution and Habitat
It can be seen around the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It usually grows on slopes of the ghats between an altitude of 150-1800 meters. It is known to climb to the top of the trees in such forests. [1]
Ecology
It was recorded as larval host plant for Blue nawab and Common Imperial butterflies.[4][5] Parts of this tree were used by locals in treating different ailments.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Singh, R.K.; Diwakar, P.G.; Sudhakar, J.V. (2015-08-26). "Bauhinia phoenicea B. Heyne ex Wight & Arn., the less known endemic and threatened liana of the southern Western Ghats, requires immediate conservation". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (10): 7676–7682. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3825.7676-82.
- ^ Hooker, Joseph Dalton; Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1879). The flora of British India. Vol. v.2 (1879). London: L. Reeve. pp. 283–284.
- ^ Wight, Robert; Walker-Arnott, George Arnott (1834). Prodromus Florae Peninsulae Indiae Orientalis :containing abridged descriptions of the plants found in the peninsula of British India, arranged according to the natural system : Vol. 1. London: Parbury, Allen & Co. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.252.
- ^ Susanth, C, Kishore, K A, Baiju, K. (2010). "BAUHINIA PHOENICEA: A NEW LARVAL HOST PLANT FOR THE BUTTERFLY, BLUE NAWAB POLYURA SCHREIBER WARDII (GODART 1819) (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE)". The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 107 (3). Bombay Natural History Society: 260–261.
- ^ Naik, Deepak; Mustak, Mohammed S. (2020-01-26). "Additions to known larval host plants of butterflies of the Western Ghats, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 12 (1): 15205–15207. doi:10.11609/jott.4770.12.1.15205-15207. ISSN 0974-7907.
- ^ Sarvalingam, Ariyan; Rajendran, Arumugam (2016). "Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) climbers of Southern Western Ghats, India". Revista Chilena de Historia Natural. 89 (1) 9. Bibcode:2016RvCHN..89....9S. doi:10.1186/s40693-016-0058-6. ISSN 0717-6317.