Bauhinia forficata

Botanical Description

Bauhinia forficata is a spiny, deciduous or semideciduous tree with an open and irregular crown; it can grow 5 - 9 metres tall. The bole is usually crooked, up to 30 - 40cm in diameter[ 419 Title Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. Publication Author Lorenzi. H. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. Year 2002 ISBN 85-86714-17-8 Description Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best. ]. The leaves are a very popular tea in S. America, where they are believed to be effective in lowering blood sugar levels and treating diabetes. The plant is also a source of wood, mainly used locally for fuel and charcoal. The tree can be used in reforestation projects and, being very ornamental tree, it widely grown from the subtropics to the tropics, being valued especially for its white floral display and contrast with the intensely green foliage[ 419 Title Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. Publication Author Lorenzi. H. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. Year 2002 ISBN 85-86714-17-8 Description Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best. ]. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].