Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. | |
Bignoniaceae | |
Patadi | |
| Botanical Name | Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. |
| Synonyms | Bignonia tulipifera Schum.; Spathodea nilotica Seemann.; Spathodea danckelmaniana Buettn. |
| Family | Bignoniaceae |
| Common Name | English: African tulip tree / Tamil: Patadi |
| Distribution | Global: Native to Africa and Introduced as Ornamental in Tropical countries Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | An evergreen tree up to 20 m height, bark light brown, fissured. Leaves petiolate, compound, imparipinnate, oval shaped leaf lets, 2-8 fleshy glands present. Inflorescence Terminal racemes. Flowers large, showy, orange coloured, pentamerous, zygomorphic, bisexual, complete, hypogynous, calyx boat shaped, recurved, contains water secreting glands, corolla large campanulate, swollen ovate with wavy lobes. Stamens 4, exserted, dydenomous, yellow, anther pendent. Gynoecium present on a large cup shaped disk, Ovary oblong, ovules many, style long, stigma bifurcate. Fruit capsule, oblong-lanceolate, pointed at ends, seeds winged. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | December - February / February - March |
| Uses | Ornamental tree in garden, industries and avenue tree along road side. Wood for manufacture of tooth picks and wooden box. |
| Medicinal Uses | In Africa traditionally used for epilepsy, convulsion control, against kidney disease, urethritis and as antidote against animal poisons |
| Tamil Name | Patadi |