Pink jacaranda, Pink padri tree
Stereospermum kunthianum

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A slender tree. It grows 15 m high. The trunk and branches are usually crooked. The bark is pale grey. The leaves are 18-45 cm long and divided 2 to 5 times. The leaflet blade is 5-13 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. They are oval and slightly unequal. There are hairs underneath. The flowers are in a loose panicle at the ends of branches. The flowers are pink and droop. The fruit are long pods. The seeds are 7 mm by 20-30 mm including the wing.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wooded Savannah and the drier Sahel. It can be on dry rocky sites and termite mounds. In southern Africa it grows from 60-1,500 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa (country/location of origin), Congo DR, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The bark is bitter but is chewed by girls to stain their lips red. The slender stem are chewed as a chewing stick.

It is a minor food.

Edible parts

Bark, fruit, branches

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds germinate poorly. They need to be sown fresh. Plants can be grown from suckers and roots.

Its other names

Local names

Babara, Benuhebe, Bubolbalbudjabu, Buhobalebujambo, Gurubonbula, Kayubule, Kokonelo, Manduk-di-frut-seru, Meire, Mogokolo, Moire, Pohon padri jambon, Umanatumba, Vononela

Synonyms

Stereospermum dentatum A. Rich.;