Back
Phanera semibifida (silver underside)
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Bauhinia semibifida (silver underside) |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
|---|---|
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Woody twinning climber. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves butterfly-shaped, green and glabrous above, silver below with fine brownish-orange hairs on base and along veins, giving leaves a golden sheen. Young leaves orangey and folded, extended by a pair of velvety stipules before emerging. |
| Stems | Densely covered by fine fuzz of orange hairs. |
| Flowers | Flowers start out white and age to yellow, fragrant, produced on terminal, elongated erect racemes. Flower buds mature from fairly glabrous white to pubescent golden brown, opening sequentially from bottom to top. Plant rarely blooms, but flowers are long-lasting (at least a few weeks). Locally, flowers appear to require hand pollination to produce fruits. |
| Fruit | Fruits are golden brown, woody explosive seed pods with distinct drip-tip, ripening from green to brown in around 1 month after pollination. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Bauhinia' named after prominent 16th-century Swiss botanists and siblings John and Caspar, where the twin leaf-lobes of this genus are said to symbolize the two brothers. Species epithet 'semibifida' comes from 'semi' and 'bifida' (cleaved into 2 parts), referring to the twin-lobed foliage. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day), Ornamental Stems |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Vertical Greenery / Green Wall |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Appears to require hand pollination to set fruit.) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Silver / Grey |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose, Hairy / Hirsute, Raised / Sunken Veins, Thin |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Orange |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody, Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Brown, White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
| Flowering Period | Rarely |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Weeks |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Inflorescence Size Remarks | Flowers emerge white and turn yellow with age. |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29128 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3437 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
.jpg)