A rare Bauhinia species in HortPark is in flower recently. With the help from the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ herbarium, the plant has been identified to be Bauhinia bracteata (Benth.) Baker subsp. bracteata. It is a Bauhinia species that is native to the Indochina region.
Most of the Baunhinia plants we see here are grown as ornamental trees and shrubs and may produce red, orange, yellow or white flowers. The flowers of Bauhinia bracteata (Benth.) Baker subsp. bracteata are greenish yellow and have a spidery appearance.
Its butterfly-shaped leaves are highly ornamental as well. The newly emerged, young leaves take on a red or orange tone which gradually turn green as they mature.
This flowering Baunhinia is located at Display Plot 26 at HortPark (33, Hyderabad Road, Singapore 119578). Many thanks to Cheow Kheng and the National Parks Board (NParks) for sharing this interesting piece of information and kind permission to reproduce the photographs on this blog.
