BAUHINIA SPECIES AVAILABLE IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND IT’S LOCAL USES

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian traditional system of medicine. The integral system of Ayurveda is based on the natural sources specifically medicinal plants. Now -a-days the use of plants as a healer has been getting the highest consideration, as it plays an important role in public health and wellness. India has about 4.5million plant species and among them estimated 2,50,000 -5,00,000 plant species have found to have pharmacological properties. Bauhinia is a genus of trees, shrubs or climbers that belongs to the legume family; Fabaceae under its subfamily Cercidoideae. Bauhinia species are popular ornamental plants, usually woody ornamentals or herbaceous. In this present study, mentioned about the morphological differentiation of Bauhinia Species and along with its utility which are available in South India. On survey in our surrounding fields we come across the following species available i.e., Bauhinia purpurea Linn. (Rakta kanchanara, Kovidara), Bauhinia variegata Linn. (karbudara), Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. (Pita kanchanara), Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (Sveta Kanchanara), Bauhinia malabarica Roxb. and Bauhinia vahlii wt. & Arn. Bauhinia being a large genus and abundantly useful in alleviating diseases. So, morphological identification of plant species is utmost important because misidentification may lead to harmful effects on mankind.