Kachnar tree outside my house is in bloom; it has been blooming for the last couple of months. It looks like it will be adorned with these beautiful flowers for a few more days. The flowers resembling orchids are in shades of pink, mauve and crimson. I can see both fruit pods and buds on the tree.

Kachnar(Bauhinia variegata) is also known as the orchid tree, butterfly tree, camel’s-foot tree, and mountain ebony. Genus Bauhinia is named after the Swiss botanists, the Bauhin brothers, in reference to the twin-lobed leaves of the tree. It is also known as the camel’s-foot tree because of the shape of its leaves.

Kachnar trees are known for their spectacular floral displays. They attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and sunbirds. Its fruit is a pod that contains various flat seeds. 

Kachnar is a versatile plant used in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties. Its flowers, buds, bark, and roots are used in powders and decoctions. The flower buds and young pods are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Its roots have nitrogen-fixing properties, which improve soil fertility.

Multiples of blossoms can decorate a single branch of this amazing species. The sight of an entire tree covered with flowers makes it quite a showstopper. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this beautiful tree. 

In Nepal, the plant is known as koiralo, and the flower is known as koiralo ko phool in the Nepali language. The flower and the buds are used to make Nepalese-style pickle. This pickle is an important part of the meal served during the Ghode Jatra festival.

Photos and text by Prerna Jain.