CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

KACHNAR

Bauhinia variegata

Botanical name	: Bauhinia variegata
Synonym	: Phanera variegate (L.) Benth.
Vernacular name	: Kachnar/Kanchan/Mohla
Family	: Caesalpinioideae
About the Tree	: Semi deciduous tree, with a spreading crown. Grows best in full sun or partial shade; propagates easily from seed. Tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils (Watkins 1970),but prefers acidic soils (Hunt 1977). Not salt tolerant (Watkins 1970), or mildly so (Hunt 1977). A fast-growing tree with seeds that remains viable for more than a year (Morton 1971a)
Height	: Up to 15 M
Bark	: Deep brown with rough scabby scales
Leaf	: Leaves alternate, long petiole (to 3 cm [1.25 in] long), thin-leathery, simple but deeply cleft at apex, forming 2 large rounded lobes; lower surfaces downy.
Flower	: Flowers showy, fragrant, in few-flowered clusters near stem tips, appearing during leaf fall (early spring); 5 petals, clawed, overlapping, pale magenta to indigo (occasionally white), with dark red and yellow also on upper petal; 5 stamens (rarely 6)
Fruits	: Flat thin hard pod upto 15 seeds
Season	: Leaves start to be shed in January and starting from top, trees become bare by March New foliage emerge in May June. Flowers in March April. Fruits ripen and burst open while still on tree in may.
Medicinal Properties	: Various parts are used in folk medicine for treating gastric complaints