Bauhinia x blakeana - Hong Kong Orchids Tree Flowers
By Delonix1
17 Sep, 2010
5 likes
A close up of a Hong Kong Orchids tree flower. They have been in full bloom this summer...it's the first time I've ever seen them bloom well out of their normal flowering period, which is in fall and winter. January is their peak bloom. Photo taken Sept. 9, 2010.
Comments on this photo
Such a stunning flower!
18 Sep, 2010
What a lovely fower!
18 Sep, 2010
Thanks for the comments. : > )
18 Sep, 2010
Reminds me a little of the flower of the Gaura........
http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/171072-gaura-the-bride/member/meanie
Very different kind of plant though - the gaura is certainly not a tree!
18 Sep, 2010
Meanie:
It does look like an orchid though.
Bauhinia is in the legume (fabaceae or leguminosae) family. Bauhinia x blakeana can grow to 50 feet/ 15 meters tall...however, 30 feet/ 10 meters is more common.
18 Sep, 2010
It certainly Does look orchid like - closest that comes to mind would be one of the species Phalaenopsis flowers without the lip.
Being in the Legume family, is this one of the soil enrichening plants that put nitrogen back into the soil?
18 Sep, 2010
Meanie:
Virtually every plant in the legume family improves soil structure by adding nitrogen. Some legumes are even used as a green manure crop.
18 Sep, 2010
So beautiful and useful!
18 Sep, 2010
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What else?
This photo is of species Bauhinia x blakeana - Hong Kong Orchids Tree.
See who else has plants in genus Bauhinia.
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29 Apr, 2010
Oh wow - how lovely is that!
17 Sep, 2010