Botanical Name - Bauhinia racemosa

----- B. racemes, Lam.; F.B.I., II-276. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 256. Gamble's Ind. Timbers, 281. Vern. Mawal, Hind. Ari, Tel. Apta. Mar.

----- A small deciduous tree. Bark blackish, very rough, with deep vertical cracks. Leaves broader than long, 1-2 by 1-3 in. cleft nearly half-way down, 7-9 nerved, slightly cordate, coriaceous, grey-pubescent beneath. Racemes 3-6 in. long, terminal and leaf-opposed. Flowers pale-white or-yellow about 1/2 in. long, on short pedicles, Calyx tube terminate, 1/12 in. long ; limb 1/4 - 1/3 in., not plitting up. Petals oblanceolate, as long as the limb. Pod 6-12 by 1/2-1 in. generally curved, swollen, rigid. falcate 12-20-seeded, glabrous, irregularly reticulate outside.

----- A short crooked tree with persistent fruit in the cold season. Common in all the forests ; frequently found in villages and worshipped by the Hindus during the Dassara festival. Wood light-brown, hard, it is fairly good, but is never found of good size and is used only for fuel. Weight about 46 lbs. per c. ft. The inner bark given a strong and durable rope-fibre, and is also used for slow-matches for match-lock guns. The gum is used medicinally and the seeds are roasted and eaten. Flowers February to May. Fruit in the cold season.