Family : Caesalpiniaceae

English : Variegated Bauhinia, Mountain Ebony

Hindi : Kanchanar

Gujarati : Kanchanar

Sanskrit : kanchnar, Kovidara

Part used : Bark

Botanical Description: A moderate- sized deciduous tree with vertically cracked grey bark, wood moderately hard, grayish brown with irregular darker patches; leaves simple ovate, rounded at apex, 10-15 cm long, pubescent beneath; when young, coriaceous; flowers white or pink, the uppermost petal darker and variegated, usually appearing before the leaves in short axillary or terminal racemes, stamens 5, staminodes absent, fruits flat dehiscent pods, seeds 10-15. Flowering and fruting January to July.

It is widely found in India.

Modern Pharmacological Action:Bauhinia variegata is reported to have antibacterial activity and also showed antifungal activity.