Mountain Ebony

Mountain Ebony Facts

• This stunning product of evolution most frequently goes by the descriptive common name of the Mountain Ebony. Yet the amazing plant does have at least one other title by which it’s sometimes known. That’s the equally simple term of orchid tree.
• Within the scientific community, however, it’s perhaps slightly better known by its technical moniker. Fortunately, that’s a relatively simple term for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because it holds the official appellation of Bauhinia variegata.
• This beautiful Angiosperm received that designation due to the efforts of Carl Linnaeus. The highly respected Swedish botanist accomplished the first official recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. That noteworthy deed occurred in 1753.
• Thankfully, the gorgeous Mountain Ebony appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both stable and sufficient. That surprising situation also seems to hold true throughout its range. The IUCN therefore presently lists it as Least Concern.
• The botanical wonder nevertheless still faces several potential threats to its continued existence. Most of these stem from human activites. These perils include such dangers as habitat degradation and loss, along with the effects of climate change.

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Mountain Ebony Physical Description

The stunning Mountain Ebony almost immediately captivates those fortunate enough to encounter the species. The awesome wonder of Nature does so, though, due more to its amazing beauty than physical dimensions. That’s true since it’s an average-sized variety.

Typically classified as a tree, mature specimens attain moderate measurements. At full growth, under ideal conditions, examples reach heights averaging approximately 33 – 39 ft (10 – 12 m). Although exceptional specimens exists, they rarely exceed this by very much.

Generally, the trunk branches into numerous smaller divisions a short distance from the ground. These large branches generally also possess a winding shape before reaching upward. In turn, however, these further divide into countless smaller branches and twigs.

On all of these, however, the bark itself presents a distinctive appearance. Most frequently showing a light gray in color, it contrasts sharply with the foliage and blooms. This part of the tree further shows a highly extensive pattern of comparatively deep cracks throughout.

The leaves of the Mountain Ebony develop as roughly heart-shaped in structure. This foliage tends to present a light green shade during the spring and summer. Each also varies greatly in size, even on the same tree. These range in length from 3.9 – 7.9 in (10 – 20 cm).

Yet, it’s the flowers of this breathtaking Eudicot that garner the most attention. These typically develop in extremely large numbers, and grouped together. Each blossom shows either a bright white or pink. Later, an elongated seedpod develops, holding several seeds.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Fabales
• Family: Fabaceae
• Genus: Bauhinia
• Species: B. variegata

Mountain Ebony Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The remarkable Mountain Ebony evolved as endemic to a comparatively broad swathe of the earth’s surface. The precise zone of habitation the lovely plant originally developed in might surprise some people. That’s because it developed as native to much of Asia.

There, though, it appears natively across specific sections of that large and diverse continent. This habitat range includes certain part of China, as well as the Indian subcontinent. Yet, it also makes a home for itself in sections of southeastern Asia, such as Vietnam and Thailand.

In all regions in which it lives, however, it manifests decidedly clear preferences regarding its choice of habitat. In terms of climate, the species favors either tropical or sub-tropical regions. But, it does equally well in both moist deciduous and mixed deciduous forests.

The marvelous Angiosperm also displays a moderate preference pertaining to the heights to which it calls home. In some parts of its range, it lives at or close to sea level. In other areas of its range of habitation this wonder of Nature appears as high as 6,004 ft (1,830 m).

The fascinating Mountain Ebony isn’t just a natural beauty, though. It’s also an important part of the many ecosystems it inhabits. In the wild, it plays several roles. Numerous animals and insects rely on it as a food source. Many feed on its copious leaves, fruit, and seeds.

Humans also find many uses for this intriguing flora. The same portions of the plant fed on by wildlife serve as fodder for livestock. Properly prepared, these also can be eaten by humans. Still other parts of it contain valuable medicinal uses for treating various ailments.

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