Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.

തണ്ണീർക്കായ്മരം

Family
:
Bignoniaceae
Synonym
:
Bignonia tulipifera Schum.
Common Names
:
Scarlet Bell Tree, Fountain tree
Flowering Period
:
November – May
Distribution
:
Native in Tropical Africa
Habitat
:
Planted as an avenue tree, also as shade tree in coffee plantations
Habit
:
Tree
Uses
:

Bark and leaves have anti-bacterial properties, used in traditional medicine in Ghana to treat wounds and burns. Leaves reported to have anti-malarial action. Stem-bark decoctions exhibit blood sugar lowering action. Soft white wood used to make paper, drums and blacksmith's bellows. Seeds boiled to extract poison that is applied to arrowheads.

Key Characters
:

Spathodea campanulata are trees with bark smooth, light brownish-grey. Leaves imparipinnate, opposite, decussate; lamina elliptic-oblong, margin entire. Flowers bisexual, bright red, in terminal racemes; calyx, spathaceous, golden velutinous, recurved;. corolla tube  bright reddish-orange without, yellowish within; stamens subequal; anthers large; staminodium small; ovary superior, ovate-oblong; stigma 2-lipped, lips flattened. Fruit a capsule, lanceolate-oblong, brownish-black, woody, seeds many, winged.