Botanical Name - Bauhinia variegata

----- B. variegata, Linn. ; F.B.I., II-284. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 258. Gamble's Ind. Timbers, 284. Vern. Kachnar, Hind. Kavidara, Mar.

----- A moderate-sized deciduous tree, closely resembling the last species. Bark grey, with vertical cracks. Leaves 4-6 in. long as broad as long as sometimes broader, deeply cordate, 11-15-nerved, sub-coriaceous, cleft through about 1/4 - 1/3 down ; lobes obtuse. Flowers large, fragrant, sessile or shortly pedicelled, in few-flowered lateral corymbs. Calyx-tube 1/2-1 in. limbs as long as the tube, cordate-ovate, spathceous, 5 toothed. Petals 1 1/2-2 in. long. obovate or oblong, generally four white and one pink or variegated, with a strong mid-rib and red or purple lateral veins radiating from near the base. Stamens 3-5. Pod 6-12 by 3/4-1 in., hard, flat glabrous, slightly decurved. Seeds 10-15.

----- According ti Brandis' in ' Indian Trees, ' the flowers described above belonog to the variety B. candida, Roxb.; whereas the type tree has purple flowers, "( petals light purple, the 5th and larger deep purple )." This tree has nowhere been found in the forests, but is occasionally met with in cultivation. It presents a most beautiful appearance when in full bloom in the hot season. It is then quite leafless and the large white flowers with usually four white and one pink or variegated petal, cover the branches. Wood greyish-brown moderately hard. The leaves and flower-buds are eaten as a vegetable.