White bauhinia

White bauhinia, Bauhinia petersiana, is a fast-growing deciduous tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, reaching roughly 7 meters in height. It is best identified by its leaves, which are palmate and deeply cleft so that they resemble a clover. The species is native to south-central and southeastern Africa, with records covering the Caprivi Strip, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zaïre (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and Zimbabwe, and it has been introduced to Trinidad and Tobago. In its native setting it grows in full sun on light, sandy or medium soils and tolerates a range that runs from dry to moist, though it does best where some moisture is present. It is recorded as hardy in zones 9 to 12. The tree is a multi-purpose resource. Its roots, seeds, and seedpods are all listed as edible, and its recorded edible uses include oil and a coffee-like drink. It also yields dye, fiber, oil, tannin, and weaving material, which support small-scale craft and household uses. Because it is not recorded as drought-resistant, it is best understood as a plant of warm, seasonally moist settings rather than arid ground. No medicinal applications are documented in the available data, so the species is presented here chiefly for its food and material value and for its distinctive foliage.