Author: L.
Morphological description (see also description of Genus Bauhinia ; Subgenus Phanera and Section Lasiobema )
Large woody liana , 30-50 m, with ± opposite tendrils (scandens Bauhinia Roxb kl386318); young branches brownish-pubescent, later glabrous; old stems flattened, undulated, forming 'monkey-ladders'.
Leaves: stipules minute, falcate, mucronate, early caducous; petiole 1.5-5 cm, ± pubescent to glabrous; lamina varying in shape from cordate entire to ovate to acute or emarginate, to deeply bilobed sometimes almost to the base or, on young basal shoots, consisting of 2 free leaflets, 5-12 by 6-10 cm, base cordate to truncate; 7-nerved; upper surface glossy, glabrous, lower sparsely hairy to glabrous.
Inflorescence: (scandens Bauhinia infl 386319) large panicles composed of many-flowered, narrow racemes, main axis rusty-pubescent; pedicels ± puberulous, 2-4 mm; bracts setaceous, 2 mm long; bracteoles minute, variously inserted.
Flowers: Buds globose, 1-2 mm diameter, puberulous. Hypanthium very short turbinate. Calyx cup-shaped with 5 teeth. Petals yellowish-white, obovate, 2-3 mm long; claw very short. Stamens 3 fertile, filaments 4-5 mm long; anthers ellipsoid, opening by a longitudinal slit; staminodes 2, minute. Ovary glabrous, 1 mm; stipe 1 mm long, glabrous to hairy; style slender, glabrous, 1 mm long; stigma inconspicuous. Disc hairy.
Pollen: scandens Bauhinia pol 386320.
Pods tardily dehiscent, thin-valved, slightly turgid, ± elliptic, glossy, glabrous, 3-4 by 1.5-2 cm (scandens Bauhinia detail 386318 ).
Seeds 1-3, oblong, c. 6 mm diameter.
Distribution
From India to Burma and S China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand; Malesia: Sumatra, Java, Madura and Sumba.
Habitat & Ecology
This giant liana occurs from the lowland up to about 800 m (on Java); it seems to be most frequent on limestone. It prefers a seasonal climate and has not been reported from the evergreen forest of the Malay Peninsula; it is common all over Java.
Vernacular names
Lulin, Plole (Java); Areuj (or Ki) kukupu, A. tilil, Tilul, A. tuku taka (Sund.); Ping keping (Mad.); Lolo dakkoh (Sumba).
Uses
Locally of medicinal value; also used for producing ropes.