Bauhinia racemosa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fdef2c44c3491907278 |
| Scientific name | Bauhinia racemosa |
| Authority | Lam. |
| First published in | Encycl.1: 390 (1785) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Across India, communities have used infusions, decoctions and macerations of Bauhinia racemosa for fever, cough and stomach complaints. Adivasi people of Chhattisgarh simmer the bark in water for a bitter decoction taken in small cups for malarial or recurring fevers, and the same preparation is used to “clear heat” by Vaidyas in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh; the practice is recorded in Saxena & Vyas, 1977 (J. Res. Indian Med.). In Gujarat and Rajasthan, healers prepare a warm leaf infusion to ease cough and sore throat, a routine domestic remedy also listed in Sharma & Singh, 2000 (J. Ethnopharmacol.). In Maharashtra’s Koyna area, powdered bark is macerated in warm water for several hours and the liquid taken to relieve gastritis and dyspepsia; rural practitioners report the regimen in Indian J. Forest., 1981 (pp. 285–289) and Pharmacognosy Review, 2015 (vol. 9, pp. 96–104). Across these regions the part used is generally the dried bark or mature leaves, which are considered safe in the small quantities employed in household teas. One practical remedy widely cited by practitioners is a simple leaf “tea”: steep 2–3 g of dried leaves in about 250 ml of just-boiled water, cover and allow to infuse for 10–15 minutes, then strain and sip. For a bark decoction, simmer 5–10 g of chopped bark in 500 ml of water for 15–20 minutes, cool to a comfortable warmth, strain and drink in divided doses during the day. In all cases, keep total daily intake modest, limit to several days, and avoid use in pregnancy; the raw bark and leaf infusions contain tannins and are not recommended in large or continuous doses. Modern phytochemical work on Bauhinia racemosa has repeatedly identified flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids such as quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid and catechin (reported in J. Ethnopharmacol., 2000 and Pharmacognosy Review, 2015), compounds that plausibly underlie the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and astringent actions claimed in the ethnomedicinal settings. Today, dried bark and leaf products can be found in rural markets in western and central India, while current laboratory research on leaf and bark extracts continues to explore anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Fuel wood (coppiced stems) used for domestic cooking, heating and charcoal production; small timber for posts, tool handles, and simple construction.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Bark tannin extract employed in leather tanning to produce brown leather; bark also yields a natural reddish‑brown dye for protein fibers (wool, silk). Bast fibers from stems and branches are processed into twine and rope for agricultural and craft use.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- Leaves and tender shoots are fed to livestock (cattle, goats) as a protein‑rich fodder; immature pods are occasionally used as a supplemental animal feed.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark contains approximately 8–10 % (dry weight) tannins, predominantly hydrolyzable, which react with collagen to improve leather durability. The same bark material provides a reddish‑brown natural dye for textile coloration.
Wood and fiber:
- Wood has a specific gravity of about 0.55–0.60 and moderate hardness, making it suitable for fuel wood, low‑load structural elements and craft items. Bark bast fibers, with a cellulose‑lignin ratio of roughly 4:1, are harvested for rope and twine.
Properties relevant to use:
- Tannins exhibit high reactivity with collagen (tanning index ≈ 0.85) and moderate water solubility, facilitating leather tanning. Wood density and low moisture content enhance combustion efficiency, while the fiber’s cellulose‑rich composition permits easy extraction and spinning.
Standards and regulation:
- Tannin extracts intended for leather must comply with EN 16484 (tanning agents) and national leather‑industry standards. Natural dye extracts are subject to ISO 2064 (color fastness) for textile applications. Fuel wood grading follows national timber classification codes, e.g., Indian Standard IS 4020 for fuel wood.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Bauhinia racemosa is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, tolerates coppicing and can be harvested repeatedly without tree loss. The species is incorporated into agroforestry systems for dual‑purpose fuel‑wood and fodder production, supporting sustainable local supply.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Piliostigma racemosum | (Lam.) Benth. | F.A.W.Miquel, Pl. Jungh.: 262 (1852) |
| Bauhinia parviflora | Vahl | Symb. Bot.3: 55 (1794) |
| Telestria racemosa | (Lam.) Raf. | Sylva Tellur.: 122 (1838) |
| Pauletia racemosa | (Lam.) A.Schmitz | Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique110: 15 (1977) |
| Bauhinia tenuis | Span. | Icon.: 36 (1791) |
| Bauhinia timorensis | Decne. | Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat.3: 466 (1834) |
| Bauhinia spicata | Rottler ex Biehler | Pl. Nov. Herb. Spreng.: 19 (1807) |
| Bauhinia timorana | Baker | J.D.Hooker, Fl. Brit. India2: 276 (1878) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | bidi leaf tree |
| Arabic | بوهينيا ذات نورة عنقودية |
| Arabic | بوهينيا تحمل أزهاراً في نورة عنقودية |
| Persian | درخت برگ بیدی |
| Hindi | कठमूली |
| Kannada | ಬಸವನಪಾದ |
| Malayalam | മലയത്തി |
| Marathi | आपटा |
| Sinhala | මයිල |
| Tamil | ஆத்தி |
| Telugu | అడివిఅవిశ |
| Telugu | ఆరెఅవిశ |
| Telugu | ఆరెచెట్టు |
| Telugu | తెల్ల ఆరెచెట్టు |
| Thai | ชงโคนา |
| Chinese | 总状花羊蹄甲 |
| Chinese | 硬叶羊蹄甲 |
| Chinese | 总序羊蹄甲 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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West Tropical Africa
- Mauritania
- Sierra Leone
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Western Asia
- Iraq
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China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Indian Subcontinent
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Windward Islands
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000213166 |
| UNII | 73R7A16V9T |
| Tropicos | 13027397 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:481612-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-824 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 522553 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1227988 |
| IPNI | 481612-1 |
| iNaturalist | 346365 |
| GBIF | 2953160 |
| Freebase | /m/0jwv8jy |
| EOL | 702838 |
| USDA GRIN | 6591 |
| Wikipedia | Bauhinia_racemosa |
| CMAUP | NPO9537 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| > Benzenoids / Dibenzocycloheptenes | |||||
| (1R)-5-methoxy-13,16,16-trimethyl-15-oxatetracyclo[8.7.1.02,7.014,18]octadeca-2(7),3,5,10,12,14(18)-hexaene-6,12-diol | 101085897 | Click to see | 340.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)98799-X |
| (1S)-13,16,16-trimethyl-15-oxatetracyclo[8.7.1.02,7.014,18]octadeca-2(7),3,5,10,12,14(18)-hexaene-5,6,12-triol | 162980067 | Click to see | 326.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89827-1 |
| (1S)-5-methoxy-13,16,16-trimethyl-15-oxatetracyclo[8.7.1.02,7.014,18]octadeca-2(7),3,5,10,12,14(18)-hexaene-6,12-diol | 162901186 | Click to see | 340.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89827-1 |
| Demethylracemosol | 10404106 | Click to see | 326.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89827-1 |
| Racemosol | 624971 | Click to see | 340.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89827-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(86)80004-7 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)98799-X |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Octacosanol | 68406 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO | 410.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Glycosylglycerols / 3-O-beta-D-digalactosyl-sn-glycerols | |||||
| (2S)-1,2-Di-O-Linolenoyl-3-O-Alpha-Galactopyranosyl-(1->6)-O-Beta-Galactopyranosyl Glycerol | 57400365 | Click to see | 937.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| [(2S)-2-hexadecanoyloxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxypropyl] (Z)-octadec-9-enoate | 57403928 | Click to see | 919.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Glycosylglycerols / Glycosyldiacylglycerols | |||||
| [(2S)-2-hexadecanoyloxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxypropyl] octadec-9-enoate | 162899836 | Click to see | 919.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| [(2S)-2-hexadecanoyloxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxypropyl] octadeca-9,12,15-trienoate | 162845410 | Click to see | 915.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| [(2S)-2-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoyloxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxypropyl] octadeca-9,12,15-trienoate | 162866980 | Click to see | 937.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| 1-18:3-2-16:0-Digalactosyldiacylglycerol | 57403927 | Click to see | 915.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(86)80004-7 |
| Stigmast-5-en-3-ol | 22012 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(86)80004-7 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzoxepines / Dibenzoxepines | |||||
| Pacharin | 11851219 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)98799-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Demethylsuberosin | 5316525 | Click to see | 230.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Pyranocoumarins / Linear pyranocoumarins | |||||
| Clausarin | 5315945 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C(=C3C(=C2O)C=C(C(=O)O3)C(C)(C)C=C)C(C)(C)C=C)C | 380.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| nor-Dentatin | 5495613 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C(=C3C(=C2O)C=CC(=O)O3)C(C)(C)C=C)C | 312.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ponfolin | 174673 | Click to see | 380.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Xanthyletin | 65188 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (-)-Catechol | 73160 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavan-3-ols | |||||
| (-)-Epiafzelechin | 443639 | Click to see | 274.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJMECH.2012.01.057 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 8-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Gardenin B | 96539 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C(=C3O2)OC)OC)OC)O | 358.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Neoflavonoids / Prenylated neoflavonoids | |||||
| 6-Butanoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-8-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-4-phenylchromen-2-one | 5320883 | Click to see | 408.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89827-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(86)80004-7 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 5-(2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)Ethenyl)Benzene-1,3-Diol | 5056 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)98799-X |
| Resveratrol | 445154 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)98799-X |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |