Bauhinia purpurea is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, and widely introduced elsewhere in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Common names include orchid tree, purple bauhinia, camel's foot, butterfly tree, and Hawaiian orchid tree.

Bauhinia purpurea is a small to medium-size deciduous tree growing to 17 feet (5.2 m) tall. The leaves are 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long and broad, rounded, and bilobed at the base and apex. The flowers are conspicuous, pink, and fragrant, with five petals. The fruit is a pod 30 centimetres (12 in) long, containing 12 to 16 seeds. Leaves are alternate.

English - Purple orchid tree

Malayalam - Mandaram

Assamese - Kurial, Og-yok, Ronga-kanchan, Ronga Kanchan, Tenga-kotora

Bengali - Koiral

Tamil - Nilattiruvatti

Hindi - Kaniar

Kannada - Basavanpada, Devakanchan

Marathi - Rakta Chandan

Other - Butterfly Tree, Mantharai, Pink Butterfly Tree, Purple Bauhinia, Purple Butterfly Tree, Purple Orchid Tree

• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Some traditional medicine systems use parts of Bauhinia purpurea for their potential anti-inflammatory effects. Extracts from the bark and leaves are believed to have properties that could help reduce inflammation.
• Wound Healing: In some cultures, preparations made from different parts of the tree, such as the leaves and bark, have been used to treat wounds and promote wound healing. These parts are sometimes applied topically as poultices or in the form of pastes.
• Antioxidant Activity: Some research has indicated that extracts from Bauhinia purpurea may possess antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress and may have potential health benefits.
• Anti-Diabetic Potential: There have been studies investigating the potential anti-diabetic effects of Bauhinia purpurea extracts. Some research suggests that certain compounds found in the plant could have a positive impact on blood sugar levels.
• Anti-microbial Activity: Certain extracts from Bauhinia purpurea have demonstrated antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies. This suggests that the plant could have potential as a source of natural antimicrobial agents.