Author: (de Wit) Cusset
Morphological description (see also description of Genus Bauhinia ; Subgenus Phanera and Section Phanera)
(glabristipes Bauh Reinw f13 )
Large tendrilled climber; young branches rusty tomentose.
Leaves: stipules early caducous (not seen); petiole 4-6(-12) cm long, first ± densely reddish-tomentose, later almost glabrous; lamina ovate-rotundate, 13-22 cm diameter, 11-15-nerved, bifid 1/2 - 2/3; tip of lobes deltoid acute; base strongly cordate; upper surface glabrous, lower densely reddish tomentose when young, later almost glabrous except for the nerves.
Inflorescence: terminal stout, many-flowered (but relatively narrow) racemes, 20-30 cm long, dark reddish-brown tomentose; bracts ovate, acute, tomentose, 2-3 mm long; bracteoles similar, inserted near the middle of the pedicel; pedicel short, stout, 7-10 mm long, tomentose.
Flowers: Buds including hypanthium fusiform, 4.5-5 cm long, c. 1 cm broad. Hypanthium densely tomentose, furrowed, 15-18 mm long, 5-6 mm broad. Calyx splitting into 5 reflexed, narrow sepals, c. 2.5 cm long, tomentose outside. Petals (colour?) oblong, short-clawed, silky tomentose outside. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments thick, anthers linear (only seen in bud), opening by a longitudinal slit; reduced stamens 2, hirsute (in bud 7 mm long); staminodes 2, minute, subulate. Ovary c. 1 cm, dark reddish tomentose, on a slender, glabrous stipe, c. 5 mm long; style 2.5-4 cm long, pubescent; stigma small, capitate.
Pods oblong, up to 30 cm long, 5-6 cm broad.
Seeds c. 6 (not seen).
Distribution
Malesia : Borneo (Sarawak); type specimen from Kalimantan. Only three specimens seen.
Habitat
Primary lowland forest.