Spathodea campanulata
Description
Large tree, 7-25 m, 10-50 cm Ø.
Leaves decussate;
Flowers erect, in terminal thyrses;
Capsules erect, lanceolate-oblong, 15-20 by 2½-3cm;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Tropical Africa present
Tropical Africa; widely cultivated in the tropics in parks and as an avenue tree; throughout Malesia, up to c. 1000 m.
Ecology
Fruiting and flowering takes place throughout the year. At Bogor I found young seedlings in hedges and gardens, with a long taproot and dentate leaves, but there are no records of spontaneous naturalization. Timber is weak and worthless.
Taxonomy
RIDLEY () mentioned it erroneously from Singapore under the name S. niloticd SEEM.; although this is a closely related African tree, it is a distinct taxon characterized by a longer-tomentose, hardly ribbed calyx, leaflets tomentose underneath, a longer lobed disk and a long-hairy ovary.
Notes
The flowers are frequented by birds on which BEUMEE (, f. 1) did observations at Bogor. Flowers remain open for at least two days and each flower may be visited by more than one bird, obviously in search of honey. Possibly the birds play a role in pollination; corollas are frequently damaged.
AYENSU observed bats visiting the flowers at night ().
The calyx, which is closed in bud, contains water and children play the 'waterspout' with it, hence the Dutch name. Children also use the boat-shaped valves for making small sailing boats.
AYENSU observed bats visiting the flowers at night ().
The calyx, which is closed in bud, contains water and children play the 'waterspout' with it, hence the Dutch name. Children also use the boat-shaped valves for making small sailing boats.
Citation
IRVINE 1961: Woody Pl. Ghana: 739: t. 7
P. BEAUV. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 447
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 429
STEEN. 1927 – In: Rec. Trav. Bot. Néerl.: 945
HEINE 1963 – In: Fl. Trop. W. Afr., ed. 2: 386
HOOK. 1859 – In: Bot. Mag.: t. 5091
SPRAGUE 1906 – In: Fl. Trop. Afr.: 529
P. BEAUV. 1928 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 232
BACK. & BAKH.F. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 540
Holttum 1933: p. 186. – In: M.A.H.A. Mag.: fig.