Author: (de Wit) Cusset
Morphological description (see also description of Genus Bauhinia ; Subgenus Phanera and Section Lasiobema )
(flava Bauh Reinw f8 )
Tendrilled climber; young branches rusty puberulous, later glabrous.
Leaves: stipules early caducous (not seen); petiole 3-5 cm, glabrescent; lamina ovate to orbiculate, 6-16 by 7-17 cm, 9-nerved; bifid 1/3-2/3 with wide sinus; tip of lobes subacuminate; base cordate; upper surface glabrous except near the base; lower glabrescent, puberulous between the nerves near the petiole.
Inflorescence usually lateral, simple or branched many-flowered racemes up to c. 20 cm with brownish pubescent axis; pedicels pubescent, c. 5 mm long; bracts oblong acute, c. 2 mm long; bracteoles similar but shorter, inserted below the middle of the pedicel.
Flowers: Buds ovoid, subacute, brownish pubescent, c. 3 mm. Hypanthium very shallow. Calyx splitting into 2(-3), finally 5 reflexed segments, c. 4 mm long. Petals pale yellow, obovate to broadly elliptic, gradually tapering toward the claw, externally golden pubescent, c. 8 mm long. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments glabrous, 6-8 mm; anthers ellipsoid, c. 0.5 mm, opening by a longitudinal slit; staminodes minute, subulate. Ovary glabrous, 3 mm; stipe c. 1 mm long, arising from the disc; style glabrous, c. 2 mm; stigma inconspicuous.
Pods dehiscent, strap-shaped, 6-8 by 1.5 cm, glabrous.
Seeds 3-6, flat, orbicular, 1 cm diameter or below (only 1 not quite ripe seed seen).
Distribution
Malesia: endemic to Langkawi Island and the adjacent coast of Perlis. Only three collections seen.
Habitat
On limestone at sea level.