Bauhinia pottsii pottsii

Bauhinia pottsii G. Don var. pottsii

Morphological description
Shrub often semiscandent, without tendrils. Young branches pubescent, later glabrous.

Leaves: stipules minute, narrow, acute, early caducous; intrastipular trichomes well-developed; petiole 3-4 cm, pubescent; lamina ovate to rotundate, 9-14 by 10-15 cm, 11-15-nerved; bifid 1/3(-1/2) with broad sinus; tip of lobes rounded, base cordate; upper surface brownish puberulous to glabrescent; lower surface rusty pubescent particularly on the nerves.

Inflorescence: lateral and terminal racemes up to 10 cm long, axis brownish-pubescent; pedicels 1-1.5 cm; bracts triangular, 3-5 mm, brownish tomentose; bracteoles similar, inserted about the middle of the pedicel.

Flowers: Buds 3-4 cm long, elongate, reddish-brown velvety. Hypanthium tubular, as long as bud. Calyx splitting in 2-5 reflexed segments. Petals red with yellow centre, lanceolate, 4-6 cm long, with claw shorter than blade; the posterior broader than the lateral. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments glabrous, 3-4.5 cm; anthers linear, 10-12 mm; staminodes few (usually 2), minute, subulate. Ovary reddish brown hirsute, 1-1.5 cm with a 1-2 cm long hirsute stipe; style 2-3 cm, hirsute; stigma peltate.

Pods dehiscent, velvety with raised dorsal suture, strap-shaped, broadest toward the acuminate, beaked apex.

Seeds 4-6, flattened, orbicular, 1-1.5 cm diameter.

Distribution
S Burma, S Thailand; Malesia: Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Java.

Habitat
Along margin of forests at lower altitudes, also along rivers, ditches and in swampy places.

Vernacular names
Sebari (Java); Aroy Kikupo Kupo, Aroy tjendali (Sund.); Somite, Sobheuri (Kangean); Bardjen (Bali); Sajap lajan Kelokop (Borneo: Kutai-Dyak).

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