Variegated Bauchinia (orchid tree) – Bauhínia variegáta L., racemose Bauchinia – Bauhínia racemósa Lam. Trees from the family of legumes, subfamily Cesalpinius – up to 12 m high, with a smooth dark brown bark, young shoots pubescent.

Leafy leaves, petioles 2-4 cm long, young leaves pubescent below. Leaf blade up to 15 cm long, with a heart-shaped base and with a notch in front, reaching up to 1/3 of the length of the sheet, the leaf blades are blunt, with 9-15 arcuate veins.

Inflorescences are few-flowered brushes. Pedicels are short or sessile, bracts small. Calyx 2-3 cm long, with felt pubescence, 5-toothed at the apex. Petals 5-6 cm long, ovate, with a wide and fairly long fingernail, all white or four petals pink, and the fifth, central, darker, with purple veins. Fertile stamens 5, staminodia absent. The ovary is hairy, the column is long, the stigma is capitate.

Beans 15-30 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, dense, flat, with 10-15 seeds, on bare stalks.

Flowering continues from February to April.

In nature, this species is found in South and East Asia, from Pakistan to China. Often cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical areas.

Leaves of this species are used as pet food, flowers are used as pickled food, as well as for making tea, the bark contains dyes and tannins; In addition, various parts of the plant are used in Asian folk medicine.

As medicinal raw materials, the bark of Bauchinia variegated and the leaves of the Bauchinia racemosa are used. They contain flavonoids (flavonols – kempferol glycosides, catechins, leukoanthocyanidins), triterpene and steroid compounds, ellagic acid, free amino acids.

In a number of Asian countries, they are used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, leprosy, syphilis, and skin diseases. Variegated Bauchinia is also used in Africa and both species are approved for use in the UK.

Included in Tyro Ultra.