Phanera championii aka Phanera Championii

Phanera championii is a shrub that climbs. It belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Its native range starts in Sikkim. It runs through southern China and Indo-China. The plant also grows wild in Taiwan. Kew places it in the subtropical climate zone. The same species also has the name Bauhinia championii. This change came from splitting Bauhinia into several genera, or groups. Useful Tropical Plants follows this change. It uses the name Phanera.

This shrub climbs through nearby plants rather than standing alone. Its tendrils grip other growth and help hold its stems. It grows in open woods and dense forest. It also grows in thickets at low to middle elevations. The account gives no sound size range for full-grown plants. This leaves both height and spread unknown. It gives no leaf or bark details for this species. Nor does it describe the species' flowers or fruit. Details for the whole genus cannot fill these gaps.

The account covers wild plants, not a garden crop. People gather the plant for local use and trade. The source lists seed as a way to grow it. It gives no seed treatment or sowing method. Nor does it give tested soil, water, or light guidance. It lists no hardiness range or bloom season. Its forest home alone cannot tell us its garden needs.

The plant has a role in traditional Chinese medicine. Reported uses include pain, inflammation, and knee osteoarthritis. Stem extracts contain flavonoids. Researchers have studied their effects on inflammation and blood platelets. They have also studied effects on heart cell injury. Other research has looked at the plant's polysaccharides. One cited study found that these helped cartilage cells grow. These findings come from work with extracts in research settings. They do not concern a preparation made in the garden. They do not show a safe dose for home use.

The wood has uses beyond medicine, despite its small size. Patterns show in cut sections of the wood. These give it the name chrysanthemum wood. The account notes its use for chests in eastern Asia. It lists no known food use and no known hazards. The lack of reported hazards does not prove safety. The sources give no pest or disease facts for this species. They give no basis to judge its worth in gardens.