#BauhiniaPurpurea is a tree that bears seasonal violet flowers enhancing the subtle beauty of our Teakhouse, when in bloom.
Local Name: Sona in Marathi (local language)
English Name: Purple Bauhinia, Orchid tree ,Camel’s foot tree, Butterfly tree, Geranium tree
Hindi Name: Kota, Raktakanchan, Khairwal, Karar, Kanchan
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Sona a small to medium-sized deciduous fast-growing shrub or tree with a round, symmetrical, moderate dense crown to 10 m tall, young branches becoming glabrous or nearly so (glabrescent). In dry forests like #Tadoba the size is smaller. The bark is pale grey brown, fairly smooth to slightly fissured and scaly.
At #Tadoba, the flowers appear on the trees from October and are a beautiful sight to see, creating a vivid splash of colour in the autumn landscape. The flowers are followed by 12-inch-long, slender, brown, flat seed pods which usually persist on the tree throughout the winter.
There are about 300 species of this genus found in tropical regions. The genus includes trees, vines, and shrubs that are frequently planted for their showy flowers and ornamental foliage.