Habit : Moderate sized deciduous tree with vertically cracked grey bark; wood moderately hard, grayish brown with irregular darker patches; Leaves of 2 leaflets, connate for about two thirds up, leaflets ovate, rounded at the apex, 10-15 cm long, pubescent beneath when young, coriaceous; Inflorescence : short axillary or terminal racemes,  Flowers white or pink, the upper most petal darker and variegated, usually appearing before the leaves in short axillary or terminal racemes, stamens 5, staminodes absent, Fruits flat dehiscent pods, Seeds 10-15.

Distribution: Throughout India, in areas upto 1,800 m elevation, Assam, Eastern, Central and South India.

Types: Bhavamishra has mentioned two types of Kanchanara-

1. Kanchanara

 2. Rakta Kanchanara (Kovidara) (B. purpurea Linn.) and it is same in property with Kanchanara.

P.V. Sharma mentioned three types- Shweta, Pita, Rakta; Shweta and Rakta kanchanara are form of Bauhinia purpurea Linn. Yellow is form of B. tomentosa Linn.

Chakrapanidatta explains Kovidara and Karbudara as separate species. He says that flowering in Sharad rutu is Kovidara and flowering in Vasanta rutu is Karbudara. 

Guna-Karma:                      

Prayoga: Krumi, Kushtha, Gudabhramsha, Gandamala, Vrana, Arsha, Raktapitta, Medoroga

Guna-Karma of Pushpa: Laghu, Ruksha, Sangrahi, Pittahara, cure-Raktapradara, Kshaya, Kasa.

Chemical composition:

 Prayojya Anga: Twak (Stem Bark) and Pushpa

Twak (stem bark): dark brown, sometimes with silvery patches, rough, compact, exfoliating in woody strips and scales, outer surface with small transverse and longitudinal cracks, internal surface white, taste-astringent;

Sangraha Kala: Not specific.

Amayika prayoga:

Bahya:

1.     Vrana, Charma roga: Wash the Vrana with Tvak Kwatha.

2.     Mukhapaka : Gandusha with kwatha of bark, babbula tender fruits, dadima flowers;

Abhyantara:

1.     Gandamala: Churna of Kanchanara twak mixed with Shunthi should be  given with Tandulodaka.(Chakradatta)

2.     Masurika: Kanchanar Tvak Bhasma should be given with Makshika bhasma. (Bha.ni.)

3.     Raktavaha srotas: Ruksha guna, Kashaya rasa and Shita virya acts as styptic in bleeding disorders.

Raktapitta:

 a. Kovidara Phala churna is given with Madhu.

b. vegetable prepared of Kovidara Phala should be given. (Cha. Chi.4/37-38)

4.     Annavaha srotas: Lekhana property may scrape out Mamsankura in Arsha.

Vibandha: Gulakanda prepared with Flowers should be given.

 Arsha: Kovidara mula twak shoud be given with Takra.(A.Hru. Chi.8)

5.     Medhavruddhi: Ghrita prepared of Kalka of Kovidara patra, Danda, mula, Patra and Kesara of Kamala and should be given.(A.Hru.U.39)

6.      Sarpadamsha: Kovidara mula tvak should be pasted and given. (Su.Ka.5/17)

Matra: Kwatha churna: 20-30 g.

Vishishta Yoga: Kanchanara Guggulu

Research:

1.     Anti-tumour  activity: Ethanolic  extract  of  the  stem bark  of  Bauhinia  variegate  has  been  evaluated  against the Dalton’s Ascitic Lymphoma (DAL) on Swiss Albino mice.  This ethanolic treatment  enhance  the  peritoneal cell counts. (https://www.ijapr.in/index.php/ijapr/article/view/112/98)

2.     Antioxidant  effects: The  crude  extracts  and  fractions of B. variegatawere  evaluated  for  their  antioxidant potential.  The  antioxidant  activity  was  performed  by DPPH  radical  scavenging  assay. (https://www.ijapr.in/index.php/ijapr/article/view/112/98)

3.     Antiulcer  effects: In  gastric  ulcer  induced  by  pyloric ligation  and  in  aspirin  induced  ulcer  model  in  rats,  the ethanolic  extract  of B.variegatadecrease  the  volume  of gastric secretion, total free acidity and ulcer index.( https://www.ijapr.in/index.php/ijapr/article/view/112/98)

4.     Immunomodulatory  effect:The  ethanolic  extract  of thestem bark of B. variegate showed immunomodulatory    activity    on    the    primary    and secondary  antibody  responses.  It  was  also  increased phagocytic index and percentage neutrophil adhesion. (https://www.ijapr.in/index.php/ijapr/article/view/112/98)

5.     Anti-cancer  activity: An  in  vitro  study  revealed  that Bauhinia  variegataextract  showed  anti-cancer  activity by  inhibiting  the  growth  of  these  cell  lines47.  Another study    found    that    methanolic    extract    of    Bauhinia variegata  leaves  at  dose  of  300,  600  and  900  mg/kg  in cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenesis in bone marrow  cells  of  mice showed  antimutagenic  action  by preventing     the     formation     of     micronucleus     and chromosomal aberrations.( https://www.ijapr.in/index.php/ijapr/article/view/112/98)