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Bauhinia variegata is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to an area from China through Southeast Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Common names include orchid tree (though not belonging to the family Orchidaceae) and mountain ebony.

It is a small to medium-sized tree growing to 10–12 metres in the dry season. The flowers are conspicuous, bright pink or white with five petals. 

The fruit is a seedpod containing several seeds. The seedpod dries completely on the tree, and when mature begins to twist into a corkscrew shape and ultimately explodes open with a very audible “clack” to deliver its seeds into the environs.