Phanera vahlii seed Bauhinia vahlii
LATIN NAME: PHANERA VAHLII
COMMON NAME: Maloo Creeper, Vahli’s Bauhinia, Jallari
The maloo creeper is a giant of the Indian forests, and its bold, twin-lobed leaves and powerful growth make it one of the most remarkable climbing plants of the region. It grows as a perennial creeper, or liana, of the pea family, native to the northern and central Indian subcontinent, and it can grow as much as fifteen metres in a single year, toward an eventual length of thirty metres or more, with a thick, woody stem up to twenty centimetres across and a huge spread of bold, heart-shaped, twin-lobed leaves, followed by long, flat pods of seeds. It is one of the most massive of all climbing plants, and in the forests of the subcontinent it is a striking and unforgettable presence, climbing high into the canopy on a scale that few vines anywhere can match.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The maloo creeper has a genuine and growing place in botanical and applied research. Botanists study it as one of the most massive of the climbing plants, examining its classification, its relationships within the Bauhinia group of the pea family and its remarkable biology, while the huge lianas of the forest have been studied for their growth and their strength. The long, strong stems have long been used by the peoples of the region for making ropes and cordage, and researchers have examined the strength and the uses of these natural fibres, which have drawn interest in the wider movement towards plant fibres and sustainable materials. Ecologists study the giant vine’s growth and its role in the forest community, where its bold leaves give shade and shelter to the life of the woodland. For a creeper of such power and such use, the maloo creeper has a steady and growing record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
To grow the Maloo Creeper from seed, ecologically, the maloo creeper is a giant vine of the Indian forest. Its bold leaves give shade and shelter to the life of the forest, its flowers feed bees and other insects, and its massive growth makes it a striking presence in the woodland of the subcontinent. Economically, the long, strong stems have long been used by the peoples of the region for making ropes and cordage, and the vine’s toughness and its massive growth have drawn the interest of researchers of natural materials. For a grower in a warm region it is a fascinating and vigorous vine, and for a gardener it brings bold, twin-lobed leaves and a touch of the Indian forest. To set the maloo creeper going, nick the hard seeds lightly, then sow them in pots of moist, free-draining compost in a sunny, sheltered spot and keep them gently watered.
nick the hard seeds lightly, then sow them in pots of moist, free-draining compost in a sunny, sheltered spot, and keep the young creepers gently watered.
LATIN NAME: Phanera vahlii
COMMON NAME: Maloo Creeper, Bauhinia Vahlii, Jallari
The maloo creeper is a giant and vigorous vine of the Indian forests, and its bold, twin-lobed leaves and its powerful growth make it one of the most remarkable climbing plants of the region. It grows as a perennial creeper, or liana, of the pea family, native to the northern and central Indian subcontinent, and it can grow as much as fifteen metres a year toward an eventual thirty metres or more in length, with a thick, woody stem up to twenty centimetres across and a huge spread of bold, heart-shaped, twin-lobed leaves, followed by the long, flat pods of seeds. It is one of the most massive of the climbing plants, and it is a striking presence in the forests of the Indian subcontinent.
The maloo creeper belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae, and it is a perennial creeper, or liana, native to the northern and central Indian subcontinent. It can grow as much as fifteen metres a year toward an eventual thirty metres in length, with a stem up to twenty centimetres thick, and it is one of the most massive of the climbing plants.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The maloo creeper has a genuine and growing place in both botanical and applied research. It has been studied in botany, since it is one of the most massive of the climbing plants, and researchers have examined its classification, its relationships within the Bauhinia group of the pea family and its remarkable biology, while the huge lianas of the forest have been studied for their growth and their strength. The creeper has also been studied in the research on natural fibres and materials, since the long, strong stems of the plant have long been used by the peoples of the region for making ropes and cordage, and researchers have examined the strength and the uses of the fibres, while the plant has been studied for its traditional uses in the village life of the region. The species has also been studied in ecology, since it is a giant vine of the forest, and its growth and its role in the forest community have been examined. For a creeper of such power and such use, the maloo creeper has a steady and growing record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the maloo creeper is a giant vine of the Indian forest. Its bold leaves give shade and shelter to the life of the forest, its flowers feed bees and other insects, and it is a striking and massive presence in the woodland of the subcontinent.
Its economic value is real and practical. The long, strong stems have long been used by the peoples of the region for making ropes and cordage, and the plant has been used in the traditional life of the village, while its toughness and its massive growth have drawn the interest of researchers of natural materials, and the vine has been studied in the wider movement of interest in plant fibres and sustainable materials. For a grower, the maloo creeper is a fascinating and vigorous vine, and for a gardener in a warm region it brings bold, twin-lobed leaves and a touch of the Indian forest. The seeds are easy — nick them lightly, then sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost in a warm, sunny spot, water them gently, and theyll sprout within a couple of weeks, growing on into a vigorous, massive creeper.