Spathodea campanulata
P. Beauv
African Tulip Tree
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Flowers
The seeds are eaten. The flower buds contain a sweet watery liquid that is used as a tonic.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in tropical Africa. It has been spread to all parts of the tropics. In Nigeria it grows up to 900 m above sea level. It grows in forest along river banks. It suits plant hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Africa*, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bermuda, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa*, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A tree. It grows 25-30 m high. The bark is light grey. It forms buttresses. Leaves are opposite. The branches are rather short. In moist climates it may keep its leaves and in dry climates it may shed its leaves for a short time. The leaves are compound and divided into an odd number of leaflets. There are 9-19 pairs + one. The leaflets are oval and sword shaped. They have a long point. They are 5-10 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flower buds are velvety brown. They are in cone like masses at the ends of branches. The flowers are large and scarlet red. The flowers are wide and bell shaped. The fruit is a long, pointed woody pod. It is 20 cm long. It contains many winged seeds.
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed. It also forms suckers. It can be grown from softwood cuttings or suckers.
Propagation: Seed - Cuttings Root suckers
Medicinal Uses
The unopened flower buds contain a sweet, watery liquid that is considered to be tonic. The bark has laxative and antiseptic properties. The bark is chewed and sprayed over swollen cheeks. The bark may also be boiled in water used for bathing newly born babies to heal body rashes The seeds, flowers and roots are used as medicine. The plant has many medicinal uses, both where it is native and introduced. Extracts of the bark, leaves and flowers are used to treat malaria, HIV, diabetes mellitus, oedema, dysentery, constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, ulcers, skin diseases, wounds, fever, urethral inflammation, liver complaints and as a poison antidote. It may be effective as a malaria prophylactic and in the control of Aedes mosquitoes.
Other Uses
As they mature, the unopened flower buds become engorged with a red, liquid nectar. Children love them because they can be used as water pistols to squirt the nectar. The brownish-white wood is soft. It is generally of little value but, because it is difficult to burn, is used for making blacksmiths' bellows. The wood is used for carving, but is considered inferior for other purposes. Plywood seems the only widespread commercial use for the timber. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal. The tree is planted for soil improvement, reforestation, erosion control and land rehabilitation, and also as a live fence. It is able to colonize even heavily eroded sites, though form and growth rate suffer considerably on difficult sites. Its dense crown does not allow intercropping, but its leaves make a useful mulch. It has been used as a shade tree in coffee plantations. In teak plantations, the tree can be used to attract initial populations of teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera), which can then easily be destroyed.
Production
It is fast growing.
Notes
There is only one Spathodea species. It can be invasive.
Names & Synonyms
Ar-fri-ka-hyu-lit-pin, Arvore das chamas, Cafauano, Culasseque, Flame of the Forest, Flame tree, Fountain tree, Gabonski tulipovec, Hirunduni, Kibobakasi, Kifabakazi, Lujjekaye, Masamasa, Mukulukulu, Munsasa, Nandi flame, Neerukaye, Nsasa mpwatu, Panchut-panchut, Patade, Patadi, Patadiya, Piquerio, Pohon cahaya hutan, Pohon kecrutan, Rugtoora, Scarlet bell tree, Sebetaiyet, Squirt tree, Sula-selo, Suncunde, Teme, Tombo-lembei, Tulip tree, Tumbo-lembei, Zowa zowa
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