orchid tree

orchid tree

n.

1. Either of two small south Asian trees (Bauhinia variegata or B. purpurea) in the pea family, having showy, irregular, usually lavender to purple flowers and deeply emarginate leaves.

2. A tree (Amherstia nobilis) of Myanmar (Burma), having compound leaves and a great profusion of large, irregular, yellow-spotted scarlet flowers.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

orchid tree - small East Indian tree having orchid-like flowers and hard dark wood Bauhinia variegata, mountain ebony Bauhinia, genus Bauhinia - mountain ebony, orchid tree angiospermous tree, flowering tree - any tree having seeds and ovules contained in the ovary