Bauhinia variegata
Native to the Indian subcontinent, mainland Southeast Asia, and southwestern China, this deciduous or semi-evergreen tree grows about 20 to 40 feet tall. It is cultivated as a street and ornamental tree for its fragrant, orchid-like flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple. Flowering often follows leaf fall. The buds and fresh flowers are eaten in South Asian cuisines, including Nepalese chutneys and Indian curries and pickles. It is naturalized in Colombia and parts of Queensland, Australia, and invasive in southern Florida. Photographed in the department of QuindĂo, Colombia.
