Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (CAESALPINIACEAE)
Common names
Sanskrit: Sveta Kanchan.
Kannada: Mandara.
Tulu: Mandara.
Tamil: Archi, Arikka, Kokku mantharai.
Malayalam: Kotapuli.
Telugu: Pachare.
Description: Deciduous trees, up to 8 m tall. Leaves alternate, broader than long, ca 4×5 cm, subcordate at base, bilobed at apex, pubescent beneath, lobes rounded. Flowers many, lax, white or fading yellow. Calyx spathaceous, toothed at apex. Petals 5, narrowly oblanceolate. There are 10 stamens (or staminodes). The fruit is a pod that splits open, somewhat curved, measuring 10-25 by 1.5 to 3 centimeters, smooth, and turns black upon reaching maturity.
Fruiting & Flowering: Throughout the year
Distribution: India: Almost throughout. Common in dry deciduous to semi-evergreen forests. Sri Lanka, Malaya, China and Timor.
Uses: The plant yields good fibre for ropes. Used as fuel wood.