PlantFiles: Orchid Tree, Bauhinia
Bauhinia forficata

This tree grows like a weed in Norhern Guatemala. I keep two trees in my garden but it's many seedlings get pulled.
It does not have spines or sharp edges and blooms in October. It is very happy in neutral or slightly alkaline soil.
Here it is called Pie de Vaca, Cow's foot because of the leaf shape. It blooms when it is only a few inches tall.
The flower is very slightly different to the ones illustrated, see my photo, but still could be called an orchid.
The leaves made into a tea are used to treat Diabetes and Kidney problems. Sometimes called vegetable insulin.

This is a small tree native from my area, living on the edge of the rainforests. The branches are quite long, so it sometimes act like a climber, but it´s most times a small tree.

The flowers are white, with narrow, long, and curved petals, not as atractive as other Bauhinias. The leaves have pointy tips, looks like a cow´s footprint (here, it´s called "pata-de-vaga", or "cow´s paw" because of those leaves).

This plant isn´t commonly cultivated, but is a common volunteer in humid places. It has the reputation of having anti-cancer properties, and is used this way. Pharmacological studies are being made, and has been proving that it has indeed some activity against cancerous cells.