Bauhinia petersiana

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Bauhinia petersiana
Bauhinia petersiana 1DS-II 3246.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Bauhinia
Species:
B. petersiana
Binomial name
Bauhinia petersiana
Bolle
Synonyms

Bauhinia macrantha Oliv. 1871

Bauhinia petersiana, the Kalahari white bauhinia, [1] is a species of shrubs from family Fabaceae and the subfamily [[Caesalpinidae}} found in Botswana, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, [2] Lesotho, [3] Mozambique, [4] Angola, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The species is 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in height. [5] The flower is up to six inches (fifteen cm) wide, with five narrow white petals. [6]

Contents

Ecology

In East Africa, the plant grows at altitudes of 150–1,850 metres (490–6,070 ft), while in South Africa it can be found in dry places, such as the Kalahari Desert at the altitudes around 350 metres (1,150 ft). The plant can widstand frost. [2]

Various uses of the plant

Plant as food

The seeds of this plant are considered a delicacy in Botswana, where they are used as nuts. Ground and roasted seeds are often used for coffee. The unripe seeds are not harmful to humans and can be eaten. Botswanans also use the plants seeds for oil. [2]

Craftsmanship

In Congo the bark is used for rope making, while the roots are used to make dye. The plant is harvested by livestock. Its growing as a decorative plant in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, [2] and even in the United States. [7]

Medicine

In Zimbabwe the Shona tribe uses the plants roots for medical reasons, such as for treating dysmenorrhoea and female infertility. In South Africa the plants pounded leaves when mixed with salt are used to cure wounds. Also, in majority of countries the macerated roots of the plant are used for treating diarrhoea. Despite its widespread usage, the plant was never domesticated, and therefore was poorly documented. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodland</span> Land covered in trees

A woodland is, in the broad sense, land covered with woody plants, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood, a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Some savannas may also be woodlands, such as savanna woodland, where trees and shrubs form a light canopy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veld</span> Type of rural landscape in South Africa

Veld, also spelled veldt, is a type of wide-open, rural landscape in Southern Africa. Particularly, it is a flat area covered in grass or low scrub, especially in the countries of South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. A certain subtropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa has been officially defined as the Bushveld by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Trees are not abundant; frost, fire, and grazing animals allow grass to grow, but prevent the build-up of dense foliage.

<i>Nymphaea nouchali <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> caerulea</i> Species of plant

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, is a water lily in the genus Nymphaea, a botanical variety of Nymphaea nouchali.

<i>Toona ciliata</i> Species of tree

Toona ciliata is a forest tree in the mahogany family which grows throughout South Asia from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea and Australia.

<i>Protea welwitschii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae

Protea welwitschii is a species of shrub or small tree which belongs to the genus Protea, and which occurs in bushveld and different types of grassland.

<i>Dichrostachys cinerea</i> Species of legume

Dichrostachys cinerea, known as sicklebush, Bell mimosa, Chinese lantern tree or Kalahari Christmas tree, is a legume of the genus Dichrostachys in the family Fabaceae.

<i>Eucomis autumnalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Eucomis autumnalis, the autumn pineapple flower, or autumn pineapple lily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to Malawi, Zimbabwe and southern Africa. It is a mid to late summer flowering deciduous bulbous perennial. The flower stem reaches about 40 cm (16 in), rising from a basal rosette of wavy-edged leaves. The green, yellow or white flowers are arranged in a spike (raceme), topped by a "head" of green leaflike bracts. It is grown as an ornamental garden plant and can also be used as a cut flower.

<i>Flacourtia indica</i> Species of fruit and plant

Flacourtia indica, is a species of flowering plant native to much of Africa and tropical and temperate parts of Asia. It has various uses, including folk medicine, fuel, animal food and human food.

<i>Hyphaene petersiana</i> Species of palm tree

Hyphaene petersiana, the real fan palm or makalani palm, is a palm tree native to the subtropical, low-lying regions of south central Africa.

<i>Aloe broomii</i> Species of succulent

Aloe broomii, known as the mountain aloe or snake aloe on account of its odd inflorescence, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Aloe, found in southern Africa.

<i>Boophone disticha</i> Species of flowering plant

Boophone disticha is a bulbous tropical and subtropical flowering plant, endemic to Africa. Commonly called the century plant or tumbleweed, Boophone disticha was first collected in 1781 from South Africa by Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg and described by Carl Linnaeus as Amaryllis disticha. Since that time it has been placed in the genera Brunsvigia and Haemanthus, finally coming to rest as Boophone. The genus name itself was spelled in three different ways by the author William Herbert, straining the procedures of the rules of nomenclature. The etymology of the genus is from the Greek bous = ox, and phontes= killer of, a clear warning that eating the plant can be fatal to livestock.

<i>Clutia pulchella</i> Species of flowering plant

Clutia pulchella, the lightning bush, is a southern African dioecious shrub of the family Peraceae. It occurs at middle altitudes in Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.

<i>Diplorhynchus</i> Genus of plants

Diplorhynchus is a monotypic genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae native to tropical and southern Africa. As of August 2020, Plants of the World Online recognises the single species Diplorhynchus condylocarpon.

<i>Ancylobothrys petersiana</i> Species of shrub

Ancylobothrys petersiana grows as a climbing shrub up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers feature a creamy or white corolla. Fruit is spherical, up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) in diameter. Vernacular names include "climbing wild apricot". Habitat is woodland and rocky hillsides. A. petersiana is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Comoros and Madagascar.

<i>Hymenodictyon parvifolium</i> Species of flowering plant

Hymenodictyon parvifolium Oliv. is a small rubiaceous African tree and is one of some 24 species in the genus, with a tropical African and Asian distribution. This species grows as a small tree to some 5 metres tall, or sometimes a liane or scrambler to 10.5 m, and is found in low-altitude woodland.

<i>Arctotis venusta</i> Species of plant

Arctotis venusta is a species of South African plants in the family Asteraceae. Common names include silver arctotis, kusgousblom, and blue-eyed African daisy. It is native to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental, and has become naturalized in parts of the United States, Australia, and Central and South America, where it has escaped from gardens to become a noxious weed.

<i>Craterostigma plantagineum</i> Species of flowering plant

Craterostigma plantagineum, is a resurrection plant species in the genus Craterostigma. It is a dwarf growing plant and can be found to make a 'carpet' across the ground, with blooms in shades of blue and purple. It is a well-studied desiccation-tolerant species known for its extreme vegetative tolerance against dehydration and desiccation. It is native to parts of Africa and to India. It is known as a resurrection plant.

Pollichia campestris, commonly known as waxberry or barley sugar bush, is a herbaceous plant in the family Caryophyllaceae and the only species in the monotypic genus Pollichia. It is found in southern and eastern Africa and in the Arabian peninsula.

<i>Protea dracomontana</i> Species of flowering shrub

Protea dracomontana, the Nyanga protea or the Drakensberg sugarbush, is a flowering plant that belongs within the genus Protea. The plant is found in the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal and the escarpment of the Free State, as well as eastern Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe this species is only known from a disjunct subpopulation confined to the summit of Mount Nyangani.

<i>Holubia saccata</i> Species of flowering plant

Holubia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Pedaliaceae. The only species is Holubia saccata.

References

  1. "Bauhinia petersiana, Kalahari White Bauhinia, Koffiebeesklou -". TopTropicals.com - rare plants for home and garden. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Botswanan and Congolese distribution, ecology and various uses of the plant
  3. Lesotho distribution [ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Bauhinia petersiana". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  5. "Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Bauhinia macrantha". www.zimbabweflora.co.zw. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  6. Hogan, Sean (2004). Flora - The Gardener's Bible. Willoughby, New South Wales: Global Book Pub. Pty. Ltd. p. 221 with photo. ISBN   1-74048-097-X.
  7. United States sale Archived March 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine