Botanical Name - Bauhinia malabarica

----- B. malabarica, Roxb. ; F.B.I., II-227. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 256. Gamble's Ind. Timbers, 282. Vern. Pedda-ari, Pul-ari, Pul-chinta, Pul-dondra, Tel.

----- A small or moderate sized deciduous tree. Bark rough brown, exfoliating in linear flakes, fibrous, red inside, Leaves broader than long, 1 1/2-4 by 2-5 in. cleft through 1/3 of the length. 7-9 nerved, slightly cordate, rigidly coriaceous, glaucous and sub-glabrous beneaeth. Racemes axillary, sessile, 1 1/2-2 in. long often 2-3 together, Flowers 1/2 in. long dull-white often uni-sexual, on very slender pedicles, which are 1 in. long. Male and female flowers usually on different stems. Calyx with 5 equal triangular teeth. Petals spathulate, equal. Pod 7-12 by 3/4-1 in. on a stalk 1 in. long, flat flexible, many-seeded, more or less straight reticulate veins, which starting diagonally from both sutures meet in the middle. Seeds 20-30.

----- Common in the moister forests and also found sometimes in the drier parts. A much finer tree B. racemosa, with persistent fruit, filled with a scented pith and acid-tasting leaves which can be eaten. Wood moderately hard, reddish-brown with irregular black or purplish patches near the centre. Average weight, 46 lbs. per c. ft. It is rather poor and of use only for fuel.