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In the Gardens

Purple Orchid Tree,

Camel’s Foot Tree

Bauhinia variegata

Bloom time

From January to April.

Characteristics

On Madeira the tree will not grow more than 4 m (4,5 yd.) tall. It has long, thick twigs and silver leaves that hang on short stalks. They are clearly notched at the tip and give the impression of two leaves having grown into one anoth-er. The single blossoms are 10 cm (4‘‘) broad and colour-ed pink or narrow purple.

Site:

The Purple Orchid Tree is a rare ornamental plant in the gardens and parks of the south. Next to the entrance to the carport of the casino of Funchal you will find a beautiful specimen. Oth-ers are to be seen in the Parque Santa Catarina (198)and in the Botanical Garden (190).

Interesting to know:

The tree is native to regions from India to South China, mostly to the inclinations of the Him-alayas. Today it is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical countries. Many of the other 300 Bauhinia species are also growing in vari-ous gardens worldwide. They are called orchid trees because of their blossoms. One of each five-crown petals is lip-like enlarged; thus they remind of the orchids belonging to the genus Cattleya. Anyway the orchid trees are not related to the orchids. The botanical name is derived from the researchers Johann and Caspar Bauhin (1541-1613 and 1560-1624).

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