CAMEL’S FOOT TREE /BAUHINIA

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of these beautiful pink flowers just hanging all over

this huge tree on the side of a busy road in Port Edward (South Coast of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, the Eastern Cape Province border).

To my surprise this tree, Latin name: - ‘Bauhinia’, is actually native to India, China, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Shri Lanka, basically the East.

The flowers are a valuable herb in Ayurveda – said to reduce growths on the body and for strengthening the glandular system.  Fresh flowers are also used in salads

This tropical tree grows to 40 feet and worldwide there are over 300 species in the genus.  It produces showy fragrant purple, pink, lavender or white flowers that grow in clusters near the stem tips. 

Other names: Orchid tree, butterfly tree, geranium tree. 

Sanskrit name: Kanchanar.

This tree is exotic in Australia, China, Philippines and few other places.

Unfortunately, this beautiful tree is considered an 'Alien Tree' in South Africa since it is not native to this country.

It is classified as:

CATEGORY 3: Invader plants, which have amenity value and which may be grown, but not planted, propagated, imported or traded. You may not grow Category 3 plants within 30 metres of watercourses and the Department may instruct you to control Category 3 plants in other areas.

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