Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Trees ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Anacacho Orchid Tree, Texas Plume, Dwarf Orchid Tree, Chihuahuan Orchid Tree, Pata de Vaca (Bauhinia lunarioides), Fabaceae Family, Texas and Louisiana native, perennial, small tree/large shrub, evergreen to semi-deciduous; blooms in April and May and sometimes the fall; bloom color: white or less frequently pink; cold hardiness: 20°f

This tree (large shrub depending upon growing conditions) is rare and is found naturally occurring in the West Texas hill country south into northeastern Mexico. Usually, it is single-trunked tree, but it sometimes is multi-trunked. It has wlight green, bi-lobe leaflets that look like cloven hooves. All members of this genera have leaves divided into two identical halves. John and Casper Bauhin (after whom the genera were named) were 16th century twin German botanists worked so closely together in their botanical efforts that the twin leaflets were thought to symbolize their labors. The small blooms appear in clusters and the plant produces a small flattened bean pod. This is a great patio tree and it attracts butterflies. In the zones 9+, it benefits from afternoon partial shade.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55962/live_view/

Bloom cluster ...

This message was edited Jul 17, 2005 1:59 AM