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Bauhinia macrantha

Scientific Name: Bauhinia macrantha

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Bauhinia macrantha

Also known as Kalahari White Bauhinia or Wild Coffee Bean, Bauhinia macrantha is a shrub species belonging to the Fabaceae family.

Considerations for Pets

  • The seeds of Bauhinia petersiana (closely related and formerly considered a subspecies) are eaten as nuts, which might be of interest to pets.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Bauhinia macrantha Oliv. 1871
  • Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Subspecies (formerly)
  • Synonyms:
    • Bauhinia petersiana Bolle subsp. macrantha (Oliv.) Brummitt & J.H. Ross
    • Bauhinia petersiana Bolle subsp. serpae (Ficalho & Hiern) Brummitt & J.H. Ross
    • Bauhinia serpae Ficalho & Hiern
    • Perlebia macrantha (Oliv.) A.Schmitz
    • Perlebia petersiana (Bolle) A. Schmitz
  • Alternative Scientific Name: Bauhinia petersiana Bolle (Accepted Name)
  • Symbol: BAMA16
  • Group: Dicot

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found in Southern Africa.
  • Specifically mentioned location: Namushasha Lodge.
  • Also mentioned growing in the Western Sierra Madre of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Small shrub, typically up to 2 meters in height.
  • Bauhinia petersiana, a related species, is described as a large shrub or small tree with very crinkled white petals.
  • Bauhinia petersiana subsp. macrantha has broader petals and a smaller habit compared to Bauhinia petersiana.

Traditional Uses

  • The meal of pounded seeds of Bauhinia petersiana (closely related and formerly considered a subspecies) is eaten.
  • The seeds are also eaten as nuts.
  • The root of a related species, B. macrantha, has been used to treat diarrhea.

Ecology

  • Bauhinia purpurea is listed as an exotic pest plant in southern and central Florida, suggesting some Bauhinia species can be invasive.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "Wild Coffee Bean" hints at a possible coffee-like use or appearance of the seeds.

Further Information

  • International Plant Names Index (IPNI)
  • Australian Plant Name Index
  • NYBG Virtual Herbarium
  • AGROVOC Thesaurus