Flowering Trees. Mountain Ebony (Bauhinia Variegata)

Bauhinia variegata, aka Orchid tree, Camel's Foot Tree and Mountain-ebony, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to south-eastern Asia, from southern China west to Pakistan and India (Kachnar in Hindi).
It is a small to medium-sized tree growing to 10–12 m tall, deciduous in the dry season, with broad rounded bilobed leaves and showy bright pink or white flowers. The fruit is a pod 15–30 cm long, containing several seeds.

I didn't pay much attention to this tree the first time I saw it until it flowered.
This is a very popular ornamental tree in subtropical and tropical climates, grown for its scented flowers.

Bauhinia variegata, Camel Foot Tree, Mountain-ebony flowers
(© 2012 LightColourShade. All rights reserved)

Bauhinia variegata, Orchid tree flower.
(© 2012 LightColourShade. All rights reserved)

The seedpods look identical to haricot beans, so that you could even play a trick on someone.

Bauhinia variegata pods. (© 2012 LightColourShade. All rights reserved)