African Tulips ................................................................. Spathodea Campanulata Family: Bignoniacae Other Common Names Semarak Api, Pancut-Pancut, Fountain Tree, Flame of the Forest Region of Origin Uganda (West Africa)

Description
An evergreen tree found all over Malaysia; widely cultivated in gardens, on roadsides and around towns; tree with good dense foliage, flowering throughout the year; grows quickly and flowers early. It can also be found in deserted areas where the forest has re-established itself. The trees can be very tall (20m) and the roots are vigorous, growing for long distances from the trunk. The shallow roots make it unsuitable for roadside planting and may give trouble by obstructing drains and breaking up floors of houses.

Many Bignoniaceae are night flowering. The two species of African Tulip Trees is so-called because of the colour of their flowers. Branches are prone to break in high wind, not suitable for planting near houses.

Leaves are pinnate and long with entire leaflets. Flowers are large and showy, stalked, red to orange-red colour and up to 10 cm long; irregular; bisexual, 5-merous, racemose or paniculate; and is bird-pollinated. It has a tubular or split down calyx. The flowers remain on the tree for about three days and exude an unpleasant musang (foxy)-smell during the night.

Propagation
The dry fruit is a canoe-shaped capsule with two wings, giving it the capability to be airborne. Also propagates from root suckers and cuttings. A rare variety has pure yellow flowers but seeds rarely breed true and the only certain method of propagating these is by root cuttings. It thrives in almost any kind of soil but needs full sun to bloom well.

Medicinal Properties
In Ghana and other parts of West Africa, bark is used for medicinal purposes. The flowers are said to heal skin ulcers.

Medical research has concentrated on the effects of Spathodea campanulata on diabetes, malaria and schistosomiasis. A decoction of stem bark showed hypoglycaemic activity in mice, but had no influence on insulin levels. An aqueous alcoholic extract of the leaves also showed some antimalarial properties. (Source: www.prota.org)

Notes
It must be noted that the true Tulip Tree of China and North America (Liriodendron) is a totally different plant belonging to the Magnolia family.

Related species: Spathodea nilotica

Other Bignonaceae: Jacaranda or Jambul Merak (Jacaranda filicifolia/ovalifolia), Oroxylum, Bignonia

[ Back | Main ]