The leaf of Bauhinia

In the genus Bauhinia three types of leaves occur, a simple, b butterfly-shaped with a deep incision at the top, c bifoliolate, (cf. fig. 1). In most species the leaves belong to type b, to which shape some owe their Malay name “kupu-kupu” (butterflies). The resemblance with a butterfly is not confined to the shape, but extends to the way the “wings” are laid together at night. I intend to treat the following species: Type a. B. bidentata Jack., B. pyrrhaneura Korth., B. kockiana Korth., B. assuruana Moric., B. platycalyx Benth., B. cordifolia Roxb. Type b. B. flammifera Ridl., B. purpurea L., B. scandens L., B. tomentosa L., B. variegata L., B. monandra Kurz and some others. B. corymbosa stands close to type c. Type c. B. binata Blanco, (syn. B. blancoi Baker), B. winitii Craib., B. diptera Bl.