Handroanthus impetiginosus

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 8-12 m in open places and 20-30 m in forests. The trunk is 60-90 cm across. The leaves are compound. They have 5 leaflets. These are hairy in both sides. The leaves are 9-18 cm long and 4-10 cm wide.

There are about 100 Tabebuia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest in the Amazon. Once well established it can tolerate dry conditions. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Guiana, Guianas, Hawaii, Pacific, South America, Suriname, USA, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The inner bark is used as a food supplement and brewed into a tea. Caution: It is poisonous.

Edible parts

Bark - tea, flowers

How it is grown

The fruit when ripe are harvested from the tree then left in the sun to open and release the seeds. Seeds can be stored only for 3 months. Seed should be sown fresh and germinate in 10-12 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field in months.

Plants grow quickly. They can be 3.5 m high in 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Ipe roxo, Lapacho, Pau d'arco, Taheebo

Synonyms

Gelseminum avellanedae (Lorentz ex Griseb.) Kuntze; Handroanthus avellanedae (Lorentz ex Griseb.) Mattos; Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.; Tabebuia dugandii Standl.; Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl.; Tabebuia ipe var. integra (Sprague) Sandwith; Tabebuia nicaraguensis S. F. Blake; Tabebuia palmeri Rose; Tabebuia schunkevigoi D. R. Simpson; Tecoma adenophylla Bureau & K. Schum.; Tecoma avellanedae (Lorentz ex Griseb.) Speg.; Tecoma avellanedae var. alba Lillo; Tecoma impetiginosa Mart. [Invalid]; Tecoma impetiginosa Mart. ex DC.; Tecoma integra (Sprague) Hassl.; Tecoma ipe var. integra Sprague; Tecoma ipe var. integrifolia Hassl.; Tecoma ipe f. leucotricha Hassl.;