Lilac padri tree, Snake padri tree
Stereospermum fimbriatum

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-30 m tall. The trunk is straight and 150 cm across. It is slightly fluted. The bark is light grey and cracked and scaly. The leaves are compound with 3-4 pairs of leaflets. These are narrowly oval or oblong and 8-20 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. The base is unequal. They have a long point at the tip. The flowers are bell shaped and 7-8 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. They are hairy and have deeply fringed petals. They are lilac and hang down. The fruit is a cylinder shaped pod 37=75 cm long. It is rough, woody and twisted. It hangs from the branches and splits open. The seeds are flat and 2-3.5 cm long. They have wings at both ends.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and hill forests and on rocky coasts up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or by air-layering.

Its other names

Local names

Paw-taw-yer, Pohon polong ular, Pohon padri nila, Thakut-po, Than-that, Than-thit

Synonyms

Bignonia fimbriata Wall. ex G. Don; Stereospermum mekongense Dop;