Kohrula / Shidu / Aapta / शिद्द /आपटा / कुहारूळ / Bidi Leaf Tree / Bauhinia racemosa

  • Local Name: Kohrula / Shidu / Aapta / शिद्द /आपटा / कुहारूळ
  • Common Name: Bidi Leaf Tree
  • Botanical Name: Bauhinia racemosa

Status & Habitat

  • Status: Cultivable

  • Habitat: Tree

  • Occurrence: Dry river valleys, dry hills.

  • Season of Availability: Warmer parts of the year

  • Geography: Tropical Southeast Asia

  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation

  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Leaves

  • Can be Eaten Raw: Yes

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes

  • Ripe: N/A

  • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A

  • As Food: Young pods and leaves cooked as a vegetable; flower buds eaten as a vegetable; seeds eaten raw or cooked.

  • As Medicine: Exchanged as symbolic leaves of gold on Dusshera; bark help treat dysentry. Leaves and onions are given together to treat diarrhoea. Leaf decoction given for Malarial infection.

  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Not required

  • Boiling Before Cooking: Not required

  • Pickling: N/A

  • Brining: N/A

  • Fermenting: N/A

  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A

  • Overall Method: Leaves may be eaten dry or as a sabji.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Contains flavonols and coumerins.

  • Medicinal Benefit: Diarrhoea and dysentry, Anti-malarial

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Exchanged as symbolic leaves of gold on Dusshera; bark and leaves help treat diarrhea and dysentary.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Steam idli in baskets lined with leaves to give the idlis flavor.