Bauhinia semibifida Roxb. var. semibifida
(FM11ab)
Morphological description
Tendrilled climber , young branches brownish pubescent, later glabrous (semibifida Bauh ylf JRN 5-7).
Leaves: stipules (semibifida Bauh stipules 139510) auriculate to orbicular, c. 5 by 2 mm, glabrous or nearly so; petiole 2-6 cm, pubescent to glabrous, lamina obovate-orbicular, 4-11 cm diam; (9-)11-13-nerved; bifid 1/4 - 2/5, tips of lobes obtuse (to acute), base cordate; upper surface glabrous, lower glabrous to glabrescent (semibifida Bauhinia lvs 139510).
Inflorescence terminal or lateral, short or long racemes with pubescent axis; pedicels pubescent, 3-6 cm; bracts lanceolate, silky puberulous, 5-8 mm, very early caducous; bracteoles linear-acute, c. 8 mm (semibifida Bauh infl&pod 139511).
Flowers: Buds (FM11a) ellipsoidal, clavate, mostly pubescent, 10-24 mm long. Hypanthium tubular, 5-10(-15) mm long, with dilated base. Calyx early splitting into 5 reflexed, strap-shaped sepals, 1-2.5 cm long. Petals white turning yellow, unequal, elliptic to oblong, glabrous except for the pubescent claw, and sometimes sparsely hirsute externally along the median line, 2-3(-3.5) cm long, claw 2-5 mm. Stamens 3 fertile; filaments 2.5-3 cm, glabrous, stout; anthers oblong, 1 cm; staminodes 2-3, small, filiform. Stipe of ovary c. 3 mm, ovary c. 10 mm, style stout, c. 5 mm, all entirely densely brown silky tomentose; style increasing towards the very large oblique, peltate stigma, up to 5 mm across, much lengthening after anthesis.
Pods strap-shaped, flat, smooth, oblong, glabrous, 10-20 by 3-4 cm, beak 5-10 mm (semibifida Bauh infl&pod 139511).
Seeds c. 6, flat, varying in size.
Distribution
Malesia : Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes. One of the most widespread species in the genus.
Habitat
In margin of forests, 200-2000 m altitude.
Vernacular names
Kupu (W Borneo, Pontianak); Takui lebang (Sungei); Akar kati katwi (Sumatra, Mt Ophir), Andor sibola ringring (Asahan), Bulun siduaja (Simalur), Akar pulalang (Jambi), Ganggang katup (Lingga).
Uses
Powder of roots used for medicinal purposes.