African Flame Tree, African Tuliptree, African Tulip Tree, African-Tuliptree, Firebell

African Tuliptree produces tubular tulip like flowers whose color ranges from orange-red to scarlet and measures 9 to 13 cm long and 7 to 8 cm across which forms in erect clusters mainly at the top of the tree’s crown. Each flower possesses four pale yellow stamens about 5 to 6 cm long with dark brown anthers. Flowers are connected by a spathe like calyx which is covered with velvety rusty to brown hairs. The tree bears large and erect green to dark brown pods about 13 to 25 cm long, 2 cm thick and 4 cm wide which point upwards at the ends of branches. Leaves are pinnate, oppositely arranged, 30 to 60 cm long with 11 to 17 opposite elliptic leaflets about 8 to 15 cm long on short stalks. Flower clusters are about 10 to 25 cm long. Fruit is an oblong capsule which is about 16 to 24 X 3.5 to 6 cm that splits open in order to release diverse seeds measuring 2 to 2.5 cm long with membranous wings. Tree reaches 15 to 25 meters high with 30 to 45 cm trunk diameter having dense irregular crown of large spreading branches which are evergreen and nearly deciduous. The showy flowers belong to the family Bignoniaceae with zygomorphic corolla and four didynamous stamens and bicarpellate pistil.

African tulip tree is inherent to tropical Africa. It is well-known as street tree or ornamental garden tree in tropical and subtropical parts of Queensland as it bears showy red tulip shaped flowers. In North Queensland, African tulip trees are a serious environmental weed, where they are highly invasive and form dense stands in gullies and along streams. It has become a problem in south-east Queensland as environmental weeds. The tree reproduces by seeds and suckers and is able to spread  from a single planting.

Plant

Spathodea campanulata is a deciduous, perennial and medium sized tree which reaches 10 to 25 meters in height with compact, round crown of dense and dark green foliage, buttressed, stout trunk and thick lenticellate branches. Bark when young is pale grey-brown, smooth which turns to grey-black, scaly and fissured horizontally and vertically with age. Leaves are imparipinnate, exstipulate and opposite. Each leaf consists of 5 to 7 pairs of opposite leaflets and petioles about 7 to 15 cm long. The leaflets are elliptical to ovate or ovate to oblong measuring 7 to 16 cm by 3 to 7 cm with entire margin and asymmetrically truncate to cuneate base, acute? or acuminate base. Flowers are zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, showy and large with pedicles upto 6 cm long. Fruit is a narrow ellipsoid capsule about 15 to 27 cm by 3.5 to 7 cm in blackish brown. Seeds are thin, flat, broadly winged and 1.5 cm by 2 cm.

Stem and leaves

Branches are thick and are marked with small whitish colored corky spots. Younger branches are almost hairless to having sparse covering of small hairs. Large leaves are compound upto 50 cm long with 7 to 17 leaflets. Leaves are arranged oppositely on stems and are borne on stalks upto 6 cm long. Leaflets are egg-shaped, broadly oval in outline and have entire margins.

It has sparse covering of soft hairs and the extension of leaf stalk is covered usually with brownish colored hairs. There are two to three tiny raised structures at the base of each leaflet.

Flowers and fruits

Flowers are large, showy and are arranged on dense clusters of 8 to 10 cm long at the branch tips on stalks of 10 cm long. Individual flowers form on short stalks which are covered in brownish colored hairs. Flowers have sepals which are fused into horn shaped structure that splits along one side as the flowers open. Calyx is distinctive and horn shaped which is curved upward, brownish and somewhat ribbed. Petals are reddish to orange colored and are fused together and resemble the shape of tulip flower. Mouth of the flower measures 7 cm across and possesses several indistinct lobes with crinkled margins which are yellowish in color. Flowering occurs throughout the year but its peak season is during spring. Capsules are large, elongated about 3.5 to 5 cm wide and 17 to 30 cm long that resemble pods. It is slightly flattened and turns from green to brown in color when they mature. They split open when mature and release 500 papery seeds. These seeds are light and are surrounded by translucent membranous wing.

Traditional uses

• The leaves and bark decoction is used to cure rashes and inflamed skin.
• Apply the flowers directly on wounds.
• Leaves infusion is used for urethral infections.
• Apply the fresh inner bark to oozing ulcers.
• The stem bark helps to lower the levels of blood sugar.
• Extracts of leaves, bark and roots is used to treat malaria and HIV.
• Bark is used to treat skin rashes.
• In Africa, the paste made from stem bark is used for healing wounds.
• In Senegal, bruised flowers and leaves are applied to wounds.
• Flowers are used for treating ulcers in Gabon.
• Leaves are used for convulsions in Southern Nigeria.
• The decoction made from bark is used for constipation?, dysentery and gastrointestinal problems in Gold Coast.
• The cold infusion made from leaves is useful for urethral infection?, or irritation, often causing pain?, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation?.
• The decoction made from stem bark is used for treating insulin? is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।" data-rx-term="diabetes" data-rx-definition="Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar stays too high because insulin is low or not working well. সহজ বাংলা: রক্তে চিনি বেশি থাকার রোগ।">diabetes? in Rwanda.
• It is used for kidney diseases in Ayurveda.
• The fluid from immature flower bud is used to cure glaucoma in Jamaican folklore medicine.
• Chew the bark and spray over swollen cheeks.
• Boil the bark in water and use it for bathing newly born babies to treat body rashes.

Other Facts        

• It is reproduced by seeds, cuttings and root suckers.
• African Tuliptree could reach 50 to 60 feet high and 40 feet wide.
• The tree has pinnate leaves which comprise of 7 to 17 elliptical leaflets. Leaves are arranged oppositely on branches.
• It blooms orange to red flowers which are arranged in bell shaped clusters at the end of branches. The tree bears flowers having both types of reproductive organs.
• The tree blooms flowers all year round but flowers lasts for three days only. Flowers are the rich source of nectar which attracts hummingbirds and they are responsible for the pollination.
• The green pods comprise about 500 seeds. The ripe pods are brown colored.
• In Africa, seeds are used as the part of human diet.
• The open pods are woody and boat shaped.
• Due to large quantities of water accumulated inside flower buds, African Tuliptree is also known as fountain tree.
• African Tuliptree has weak branches and shallow root system.
• The wood of African Tuliptree is light brown and is used for manufacture of drums, paper and for carving.
• It is a perennial plant which could survive from 50 to 150 years in wild.

References