FoI
Maloo Creeper   
Foto info
Maloo Creeper
N Native Vine
Photo: Pravin Kawale
Common name: Maloo Creeper • Hindi: मालू Malu • Marathi: चम्बुली Chambuli • Malayalam: Mottanvalli • Telugu: Madapu • Kannada: Chambolli • Bengali: Chehur • Oriya: Siyali
Botanical name: Bauhinia vahlii    Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family)

Maloo Creeper is the largest creeper in India, and can grow up to 10-30 m long. The woody stem can get as thick as 20 cm. The spreading stout branches are covered with rusty fine hair. The stout tendrils are coiling and occur in pairs. Large leaves are 10-30 cm, 2-lobed with a broad cut. The white flowers, 2-3 cm across, turn yellow when old. The flowers occur in rounded clusters. It has 3 stamens and 7 staminodes. Fruit is a flat woody pod with fine rusty hairs, 20-30 cm long.
Identification credit: Pravin Kawale
Photographed in Alibag, Maharashtra.