Bauhinia petersiana
{{Short description|Species of legume}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Bauhinia petersiana 1DS-II 3246.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Bauhinia
| species = petersiana
| authority = Bolle
| synonyms = Bauhinia macrantha Oliv. 1871
}}
Bauhinia petersiana, the Kalahari white bauhinia,{{Cite news|url=http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=bauhinia_petersiana|title=Bauhinia petersiana, Kalahari White Bauhinia, Koffiebeesklou -|work=TopTropicals.com - rare plants for home and garden|access-date=2017-08-04|language=en}} is a species of shrubs from family Fabaceae and the subfamily Cercidoideae found in Botswana, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo,[http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Bauhinia%20petersiana_En.htm Botswanan and Congolese distribution, ecology and various uses of the plant] Lesotho,[http://plants.newplant.co.za/pub/size/4/page/34 Lesotho distribution]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Mozambique,{{GRIN | accessdate = 2018-01-25}} Angola, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The species is {{convert|2|m}} in height.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=126800|title=Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Bauhinia macrantha|website=www.zimbabweflora.co.zw|language=en|access-date=2017-08-04}} The flower is up to six inches (fifteen cm) wide, with five narrow white petals.{{ cite book | last= Hogan | first= Sean | date= 2004 | title= Flora - The Gardener's Bible | location= Willoughby, New South Wales | publisher= Global Book Pub. Pty. Ltd. | page= 221 with photo | isbn= 1-74048-097-X }}
Ecology
In East Africa, the plant grows at altitudes of {{convert|150|–|1850|m}}, while in South Africa it can be found in dry places, such as the Kalahari Desert at the altitudes around {{convert|350|m}}. The plant can widstand frost.
Various uses of the plant
=Plant as food=
=Craftsmanship=
In Congo the bark is used for rope making, while the roots are used to make dye. The plant is harvested by livestock. Its growing as a decorative plant in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and even in the United States.[http://www.tradewindsfruitstore.com/servlet/the-2492/Bauhinia-petersiana--dsh--Kalahari/Detail United States sale] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305085555/http://www.tradewindsfruitstore.com/servlet/the-2492/Bauhinia-petersiana--dsh--Kalahari/Detail |date=March 5, 2012 }}
=Medicine=
In Zimbabwe the Shona tribe uses the plants roots for medical reasons, such as for treating dysmenorrhoea and female infertility. In South Africa the plants pounded leaves when mixed with salt are used to cure wounds. Also, in majority of countries the macerated roots of the plant are used for treating diarrhoea. Despite its widespread usage, the plant was never domesticated, and therefore was poorly documented.
References
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