Spathodea campanulata

Family

Bignoniaceae

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Chromosome number

2n = 26, 36, 38

Synonyms

Bignonia tulipifera Thonn. (1829), Spathodea tulipifera (Thonn.) G.Don (1838), Spathodea nilotica Seem. (1865).

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Vernacular names

African tulip tree, Nandi flame, fountain tree (En). Tulipier du Gabon, arbre-flamme (Fr). Tulipeira-do-Gabão (Po). Kifabakazi (Sw).

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Origin and geographic distribution

African tulip tree is native of West and Central Africa, and western East Africa, from southern Senegal east to western Kenya and Tanzania, and south to northern Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo. Elsewhere in tropical Africa it is planted as an ornamental, e.g. in Cape Verde, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. African tulip tree is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions outside Africa. It has become naturalized and is an important component of secondary vegetation, e.g. in Mexico and Puerto Rico, and is considered a weed in Guam and Hawaii.

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Uses

African tulip tree is planted as an ornamental, a wayside tree and shade tree. It is used for soil improvement, reafforestation, erosion control and land rehabilitation, and as a live fence. Its dense crown does not allow intercropping, but its leaves make a useful mulch. It has been used as a shade tree in coffee plantations. In teak plantations, African tulip tree can be used to attract initial populations of teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera), which can then easily be destroyed.
Spathodea campanulata has many medicinal uses both where it is native and introduced. Extracts of bark, leaves and flowers are used to treat malaria, HIV, diabetes mellitus, oedema, dysentery, constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, ulcers, skin diseases, wounds, fever, urethral inflammation, liver complaints and as a poison antidote. It may be effective as a malaria prophylactic and in the control of Aedes mosquitoes.
In West Africa, the wood is used for carving, but considered inferior for other purposes. In Ethiopia, it is used as firewood and to produce charcoal. Plywood seems the only widespread commercial use for the timber, traded as African tulip (En) or tulipier (Fr); African tulip tree is grown as a plantation crop for this purpose in the Philippines. The seeds are eaten in many parts of Africa. The flower buds contain a reddish sap, and are used as water pistols by children.

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Production and international trade

Properties

Medical research has concentrated on the effects of Spathodea campanulata on diabetes, malaria and schistosomiasis. A decoction of stem bark showed hypoglycaemic activity in mice, but had no influence on insulin levels. In tests on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice, the hexane and chloroform extracts of stem bark showed blood schizontocidal action, and the chloroform extract demonstrated some prophylactic properties. The extracts not only suppressed parasitaemia but also prolonged the lifespan of mice. An aqueous alcoholic extract of the leaves also showed some antimalarial properties.
Extracts have been tried as a molluscicide; several of these proved effective against Biomphalaria glabrata in Brazil, but in Swaziland they were the least effective of all extracts tested against Bulinus africanus, the schistosomiasis (bilharzia) vector. As a fungicide they had little effect on damping-off caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, but they were effective against bean rust caused by Uromyces appendiculatus. The extracts showed larvicidal properties against the mosquito Aedes fluviatilis, a vector of Rift Valley fever.
Of the many compounds isolated from the wood, bark and leaves the most promising are ursolic acid and its derivatives, which are believed to play a role in the antimalarial activity of the bark extract.
The wood is dirty white, very light (air-dry density ca. 360 kg/m³), soft and fibrous. It is liable to rot. It is a poor timber and firewood, although occasionally used as such.

Description

Small to medium-sized deciduous tree up to 25(–35) m tall, in savanna often a shrub, shallow rooted; bole up to 60 cm in diameter, fluted; bark pale grey-brown and smooth when young, turning grey-black when ageing, and then rough and scaling at the base of the bole; slash dirty-white with scattered blotches and pits, turning greenish-brown; crown compact, with dark foliage, sometimes somewhat flattened. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, imparipinnate; stipules absent; petiole 7–15 cm long, rachis 15–35 cm long; leaflets (7–)9–15(–19), sessile or with up to 5 mm long petiolule, blade elliptical to ovate or ovate-oblong, (3–)7–16 cm × (1.5–)3–7 cm, asymmetrically truncate to cuneate at base with 1–2 glands, acuminate or acute at apex, glabrous to pubescent below, with (6–)8–11 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence a terminal corymb-like raceme. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, large and showy; pedicel up to 6 cm long, longer in lower part of inflorescence than in upper part; calyx spathaceous, 4–8 cm long, recurved, long-acuminate, ribbed, splitting down on one side; corolla widely campanulate from a contracted base, 8–15 cm long, 5-lobed, scarlet or orange-red with yellow margin and throat; stamens 4, inserted on corolla tube, didynamous, more or less exserted, thecae divaricate; ovary superior, 2-celled, style filiform, slender, stigma 2-lamellate. Fruit a narrowly ellipsoid woody capsule 15–27 cm × 3.5–7 cm, blackish-brown, dehiscing by 2 valves, many-seeded. Seeds thin and flat, ca. 1.5 cm × 2 cm, very broadly winged.

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Other botanical information

Spathodea comprises only a single species, with 3 subspecies distinguished by their hairiness. Subsp. campanulata has glabrous leaves and ovary, a minutely velvety calyx, and is restricted to West African lowland forest. Subsp. nilotica (Seem.) Bidgood has densely hairy leaves and ovary, a densely velvety calyx, and is found in Central and East African lower montane forest. Subsp. congolana Bidgood, of the lowland forest in the Congo Basin, has leaves with scattered long curly hairs and a glabrous to curly hairy calyx and ovary. Some introgression between subspecies has been reported.

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Anatomy

Wood-anatomical description (IAWA hardwood codes):
Growth rings: 2: growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent. Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; 13: simple perforation plates; (19: reticulate, foraminate, and/or other types of multiple perforation plates); 22: intervessel pits alternate; 23: shape of alternate pits polygonal; 25: intervessel pits small (4–7 μm); 26: intervessel pits medium (7–10 μm); 30: vessel-ray pits with distinct borders; similar to intervessel pits in size and shape throughout the ray cell; (31: vessel-ray pits with much reduced borders to apparently simple: pits rounded or angular); 42: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100–200 μm; (45: vessels of two distinct diameter classes, wood not ring-porous); 46: ≤ 5 vessels per square millimetre; (47: 5–20 vessels per square millimetre); 56: tyloses common. Tracheids and fibres: 61: fibres with simple to minutely bordered pits; 66: non-septate fibres present; 69: fibres thin- to thick-walled. Axial parenchyma: 80: axial parenchyma aliform; 82: axial parenchyma winged-aliform; 83: axial parenchyma confluent; (89: axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands); 91: two cells per parenchyma strand; 92: four (3–4) cells per parenchyma strand. Rays: 98: larger rays commonly 4- to 10-seriate; 104: all ray cells procumbent; 115: 4–12 rays per mm.
(E. Uetimane, H. Beeckman & P.E. Gasson)

Growth and development

Growth of the bole may be up to 5 cm/year in diameter. Flowering may start 2–3 years after planting. The flowers are individually short-lived but carried in succession over long periods. Under favourable conditions, African tulip tree may flower throughout the year. In areas with a pronounced dry season (e.g. Kenya) or cold season (e.g. southern United States, Spain) the trees are deciduous and have a marked peak in flowering. High temperatures during flowering interfere with pollen development and fertilization. The seeds are wind-dispersed. Coppice growth is reported to be excellent; trees will coppice up to at least pole size.

Ecology

African tulip tree occurs naturally in forest fringes, riverine forest, secondary scrub, wooded savanna and open savanna, up to 2000 m altitude and in areas receiving 1300–2000 mm annual rainfall. In secondary forest, few juvenile trees are found as the species is not shade tolerant. It prefers warm, moist conditions but on deep soil it withstands drought. African tulip tree is frost tender when young. It does not produce seed at high temperatures or low relative humidity.

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Propagation and planting

Propagation is mostly by seed. Seeds do not require treatment; they are recalcitrant and their viability is short. One kg contains about 125,000 seeds.
Cuttings can also be used for propagation, larger diameter cuttings (up to 10 cm) giving the best results. Saddle and side grafting are sometimes used to multiply desirable ornamental forms, such as those with yellow flowers, with higher success rates for side grafting (75% vs. 25%). However, saddle-grafted plants have better growth. Root suckers can also be used for propagation.

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Management

The wood is soft and brittle, so planting should only take place where falling branches will not cause damage.

Diseases and pests

African tulip tree is affected by leaf blister in Kenya and is susceptible to butt and heart rot. Fungal diseases (Diplodia and Corynespora species) attack 1–2 year old seedlings in Cuba. African tulip tree is a host of the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata and Xyleborus beetles in Cuba, and of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and the coreid bug Leptoglossus zonatus (pest of corn, soybean, sorghum, cotton) in Brazil. Other insect pests include teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera) in India and a leafhopper (Rabela tabebuiae) in Florida.

Genetic resources and breeding

The Subtropical Horticultural Research Unit, Miami, United States has a germplasm collection of 16 accessions. Seed is available commercially from many sources. An orange to buttercup-yellow form of the species, originally from Uganda, is popular in horticulture. It is multiplied vegetatively.

Prospects

African tulip tree will remain important as a park and street tree, valued for its shade and spectacular flowers. Its use in agriculture and forestry and as a medicinal plant deserves more attention. It also has potential for greater use in rehabilitating disturbed lands on account of its pioneering ability and rapid growth.

Major references

• Bekele-Tesemma, A., Birnie, A. & Tengnäs, B., 1993. Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia: identification, propagation and management for agricultural and pastoral communities. Technical Handbook No 5. Regional Soil Conservation Unit/SIDA, Nairobi, Kenya. 474 pp.
• Bidgood, S., 1994. Infraspecific variation in Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae). In: Seyani, J.H. & Chikuni, A.C. (Editors). Proceedings of the 13th plenary meeting of AETFAT, Zomba, Malawi. Volume 1. National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi. pp. 327–332.
• Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.
• Consoli, R.A.G.B., Mendes, N.M., Pereira, J.P., Santos, B.S. & Lamounier, M.A., 1988. Influence of some plant extracts on the survival of larvae of Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) (Diptera: Culicidae) in the laboratory. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 83(1): 87–93.
• Gentry, A.H., 1984. Bignoniaceae. Flore du Cameroun. Volume 27. Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique, Yaoundé, Cameroon. pp. 42–45.
• Liben, L., 1977. Bignoniaceae. In: Bamps, P. (Editor). Flore d’Afrique centrale. Spermatophytes. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium. 39 pp.
• Makinde, J.M., Amusan, O.O.G. & Adesogan, E.K., 1988. The antimalarial activity of Spathodea campanulata stem bark extract on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice. Planta Medica 54(2): 122–125.
• Makinde, J.M., Amusan, O.O.G. & Adesogan, E.K., 1990. The antimalarial activity of chromatographic fractions of Spathodea campanulata stem bark extracts against Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice. Phytotherapy Research 4(2): 53–56.
• Niyonzima, G., Laekeman, G.M., Witvrouw, M., van Poel, B., Pieters, L., Paper, P., de Clercq, E., Franz, G. & Vlietinck, A.J., 1999. Hypoglemic, anticomplement and anti-HIV activities of Spathodea campanulata stem bark. Phytomedicine 6(1): 45–49.
• Salim, A.S., Simons, A.J., Waruhiu, A., Orwa, C. & Anyango, C., 1998. Agroforestree database. A tree species reference and selection guide. Version 1.0 CD-ROM. International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, Nairobi, Kenya.

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Other references

• Amihan, J.B., 1959. A study on the survival of African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata) cuttings in relation to their diameters. Philippine Journal of Forestry 15: 135–149.
• Amin, P.W. & Upadhyaya, A.K., 1976. Occurrence of the teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera (Hyblaeidae, Lepidoptera) on the fountain tree Spathodea nilotica (Bignoniaceae). Indian Forester 102(5): 306–311.
• Chandler, P., 1982. African Tulip Tree. Pacific Horticulture 43(2): 39–40.
• Chauhan, S.V.S., Yadav, V. & Yadav, D.K., 1987. Studies in the causes of seedlessness in some Bignoniaceae. Journal of Experimental Botany 38: 173–177.
• Consoli, R.A.G.B., Mendes, N.M., Pereira, J.P., Santos, B.S. & Lamounier, M.A., 1989. Influence of several plant extracts on the oviposition behaviour of Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) (Diptera: Culicidae). Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 84(1): 47–51.
• InsideWood, undated. [Internet] http://insidewood.lib.ncsu.edu/search/. Accessed May 2007.
• Irvine, F.R., 1961. Woody plants of Ghana, with special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press, London, United Kingdom. 868 pp.
• Isla, L.H. & Ravelo, H.G., 1991. Spathodea campanulata Beauv., nueva planta hospedante de Ceratocystis fimbriata (Hell & Halst) y Xyleborus spp. Centro Agrícola 16(2): 91–93.
• Isla, L.H. & Ravelo, H.G., 1993. Algunas enfermedades fungosas del cedro de la India (Spathodea campanulata Beauv.) en Cuba. Centro Agrícola 20(1): 81–82.
• Magilu, M., Mbuyi, M. & Ndjele, M.B., 1996. Plantes médicinales utilisées par les Pygmées (Mbute) pour combattre le paludisme dans la zone de Mambasa, Ituri, Zaire. In: van der Maesen, L.J.G., van der Burgt, X.M. & van Medenbach de Rooy, J.M. (Editors). The biodiversity of African plants. Proceedings 14th AETFAT Congress, 22–27 August 1994, Wageningen, Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 741–746.
• Mendes, N.M., de Souza, C.P., Araujo, N., Pereira, J.P. & Katz, K., 1990. Actividade moluscicida de alguns produtos naturais sobre Biomphalaria glabrata. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 81(1): 87–91.
• Menninger, E.A., Soderholm, P.K., Greensmith, P. & MacKenzie, G., 1975. Propagating the yellow African tulip tree. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society 88: 443–444.
• Montes-Belmont, R., Cruz-Cruz, V., Domingo-Peralta, M., 1990. Extractos vegetales para el control de la roya del frijo Uromyces appendiculatus. Agrociencia (Mexico). Serie Protección Vegetal 1(3): 99–106.
• Ngouela, S., Tsamo, E. & Sondengam, B.L., 1988. Extractives from Bignoniaceae: Constituents of the stem bark of Spathodea campanulata. Planta Medica 54: 476.
• Niyonzima, G., Laekeman, G.M., Scharpé, S., Smets, T. & Vlietinck, A.J., 1990. Hypoglemic activity of Spathodea campanulata bark decoctions on streptozotocin-diabetic mice. Planta Medica 56: 682.
• Niyonzima, G., Pieters, L., Balde, A.M., Claeys, M., Laekeman, G.M. & Vlietinck, A.J., 1991. Isolation of 6-O-Caffeotylcatalpol and some other compounds from Spathodea campanulata. Planta Medica 57, Supplement Issue 2: A85–A86.
• Pablo, A.A., 1986. Particleboard, cement-bonded boards and hardboards from plantation species. FPRDI Journal 15(1–2): 43–50.
• Rivera, L.W. & Aide, T.M., 1998. Forest recovery in the karst region of Puerto Rico. Forest Ecology and Management 108: 63–75.
• Rockwood, D.L. & DeValerio, J.T., 1986. Promising species for woody biomass production in warm-humid environments. Biomass 11(1): 1–17.
• Toledo, V.M., 1977. Pollination of some rain forest plants by non-hovering birds in Veracruz, Mexico. Biotropica 9(4): 262–267.
• Vales, M.A. & Carreras, R., 1987. Anatomía de maderas de Cuba 3. Acta Botanica Hungarica 33: 333–351.

Afriref references

Sources of illustration

• Bidgood, S., 1994. Infraspecific variation in Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae). In: Seyani, J.H. & Chikuni, A.C. (Editors). Proceedings of the 13th plenary meeting of AETFAT, Zomba, Malawi. Volume 1. National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi. pp. 327–332.
• Liben, L., 1977. Bignoniaceae. In: Bamps, P. (Editor). Flore d’Afrique centrale. Spermatophytes. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium. 39 pp.

Author(s)

•	C.H. Bosch PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Editors

•	L.P.A. Oyen PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
•	R.H.M.J. Lemmens PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Associate editors

•	S.D. Davis Centre for Economic Botany, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
•	M. Chauvet Bureau national de PROTA pour la France, Agropolis International, Avenue Agropolis, F-34394 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
•	J.S. Siemonsma PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Photo editor

•	E. Boer PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Bosch, C.H., 2002. Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Oyen, L.P.A. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed .

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