Bauhinia × blakeana Dunn
Vernacular name: Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Bauhinia
Species Name: Bauhinia × blakeana Dunn
Family: Fabaceae (Cercidoideae)
Habit: Evergreen to semi-evergreen ornamental tree.
Stem: Small to medium-sized tree, 6–12 m tall; trunk short, bark grey-brown, slightly rough; crown broad and spreading.
Leaf: Alternate, simple, broadly orbicular, 10–20 × 10–20 cm, deeply bilobed at apex, cordate at base, glabrous, long-petiolate.
Flowering: Autumn–spring.
Flowers: Large, fragrant, orchid-like, 10–15 cm across; petals 5, purplish-pink to magenta with darker veins on the upper petal; stamens 5 fertile; ovary superior, monocarpellary.
Fruit: Usually absent; a sterile hybrid that rarely produces pods or viable seeds.
Uses:
Widely planted as an ornamental avenue and garden tree for its spectacular flowers. It is the floral emblem of Hong Kong and is propagated vegetatively due to its sterility.
It has antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-diabetic properties.
Plant is used in herbal remedies to manage blood sugar and pain.
