Apamate, Pink Poui, Pink Tecoma, Rosy Trumpet Tree
Tabebuia rosea

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

Tabebuia rosea or commonly known as Apamate or Rosy Trumpert Tree is a large, tropical tree growing up to 30 m in height. The leaves are compound. Other common names are Pink Poui and Roble de Sabana. It is the national tree of El Salvador. It has a spreading crown and an often buttressed, straight bole that can be up to 1 m in diameter. The flowers are large and pink and first occur after three years after planting. The bark can be gray or brown. Leaves are compound, composed of five leaflets each. The fruits, long and slender capsules, are not edible. T. rose is not cultivated for food. Otherwise, it functions as a shade tree in coffee and cocoa plantations. Medicinally, it is used for anemia, constipation, fevers, pain, and tonsillitis. The wood is moderately light and soft but makes an excellent timber. It is ideal for heavy construction, furniture, cabinet making, interior finish, boat building, carts, etc. Propagation of this plant is by woody stem cuttings, seeds sowing, and air layering.

Tabebuia rosea is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Common in moist or rather dry forest, often in open fields or along roadsides, most abundant on the Pacific plains, but often on steep hillsides, at elevations up to 1,200 metres in Guatemala. Coastal thickets in Dominica.

Northern S. America - Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela; north to the Caribbean and through Central America to Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; French Guiana; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of, Asia, Belize, Burma, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

Bark used to eliminate intestinal parasites, malaria and uterine cancer. A decoction of the bark is recommended for anemia and constipation. A decoction of the flowers, leaves and roots has been used to reduce fevers and pain, cause sweating, to treat tonsil inflammation and various other disorders (Hernan Rodriguez Navas. 2007. La Utilidad de las Plantas Medicinales en Costa Rica. EUNA, Heredia, Costa Rica). Active phytochemicals in the tree include lapachol, a natural organic compound isolated from various other Tabebuia species. Chemically, it is a derivative of naphthoquinone, related to vitamin K.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.

Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Malaria: Treats malaria - an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites spread to people through the bites of mosquitos.

Parasiticide: Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in

Other

Rating: 4

Agroforestry Uses: The tree is used to provide shade in coffee and cocoa plantations. Other Uses The wood is a rather dull greyish brown with a fine striping of deep brown, often in a conspicuous pattern on the tangential surface. It is without distinctive odour or taste; the grain is usually straight, but sometimes roey or wavy; the texture medium. The wood is moderately light and soft to rather hard and heavy; fairly durable. It is easy to work, finishes smoothly, seasons without difficulty. It is said that if the wood is cut green and stacked to dry, it acquires a dark colour, without losing its striping, and is then of different appearance from wood treated in the more usual manner. An excellent timber, it is used for a great variety of purposes such as heavy construction; furniture and cabinetwork; interior finish; boat building; carts, and many other kinds of work. A large part of the cheaper chairs of Central America are made from this wood.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Parasiticide: Kills external body parasites such as hair lice.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from 100 - 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30c, but can tolerate 17 - 34c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,250 - 2,500mm. Grows best in a sunny position. Succeeds in most soils that are fertile. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5. Requires a somewhat sheltered position because branches are easily broken by strong winds. This species can sometimes be invasive. Trees can commence flowering when only 3 years old from seed. Annual wood production potential is 10 - 20 metric tonnes per hectare. Flowering Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer(early spring, mid spring, late spring). Bloom Color: Pale Pink Violet/Lavender White/Near White(red, pink, white). Spacing: 30-40 ft. (9-12 m).

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germination usually takes place in 3 - 4 days. Cuttings of half-ripe wood. Air layering.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

This species can sometimes be invasive.

Its other names

Local names

Broble, oaka.

Synonyms

Bignonia pentaphylla L. Couralia rosea (Bertol.) Donn.Sm. Sparattosperma rosea (Bertol.) Miers Tabeb