NORTHERN BAUHINIA
Lysiphyllum hookeri
Plant Family
Fabaceae, Subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Alternative Common Names
pegunny, alibangbang, Hooker's bauhinia, white bauhinia, mountain ebony and Queensland ebony.
Small tree to about 6 m high, young growth is a coppery colour, changing to light green.
Leaves - with only a single pair of leaflets, producing a bi-lobed leaf that resembles the wings of a butterfly, slightly larger than L. carronii.
Flowers - showy white flowers about 8 cm across are produced throughout the year dependent on rainfall, and are accented by long red stamens. They also have a lovely delicate scent.
Pods - are dark brown and flat containing multiple seeds.
Flowering usually spring.
Habitat
These trees grow naturally in monsoon forest, littoral rainforest and occasionally in more open forest types in north-eastern Australia. It has also been widely cultivated throughout Australia and the pacific region as a drought-tolerant ornamental plant.
1