African Tulip Tree
Spathodea campanulata

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

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.

There is only one Spathodea species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), 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 (country/location of origin), 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, 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 it is used for food

The seeds are eaten. CAUTION: The fruit are boiled to extract juice used in arrow poison. The flower buds have a sweet watery liquid used as a tonic.

Edible parts

Seeds, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It also forms suckers. It can be grown from softwood cuttings or suckers.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

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

Synonyms

Bignonia tulipifera Schum.; Spathodea nilotica Seemann; Spathodea tulipifera (Schum.) G. Don; and others