Bignoniaceae

Spathodea P.Beauv.

First published in Fl. Oware 1: 46 (1805)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is W. Tropical Africa to Uganda and Angola. It is a tree.

Descriptions

Bignoniaceae, Sally Bidgood, Bernard Verdcourt, Kaj Vollesen. Cobaeaceae, Bernard Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006

Morphology General Habit
Trees.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or ternate, imparipinnate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a dense terminal raceme with flowers held erect.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx spathaceous, boat-shaped, recurved at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla strongly bilaterally symmetrical, very broadly campanulate, narrowing abruptly into a short tube, 2-lipped, upper lip 2-lobed, lower 3-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, didynamous, included to slightly exserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Sporangia
Thecae divaricate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary oblong, Disk annular, lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Ovules
Ovules numerous, multiseriate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a dry fusiform to compressed capsule; septum flattened.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds compressed, heart-shaped in outline, surrounded by a broad membranaceous wing.
Note
A monotypic African genus, but widely cultivated elsewhere.
[FTEA]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Trees
Morphology Leaves
Leaves imparipinnate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in terminal corymb-like racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx large, spathe-like, narrowing to a recurved tip
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla broadly campanulate from a cylindric base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens nearly exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a narrowly oblong-elliptic capsule, narrowed at the ends, opening on one side
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds flat, broadly winged.
Distribution
A single species in tropical Africa. Bidgood in Proc. 13th Plenary Meeting AETFAT, Malawi 1: 327–331 (1994).
[FSOM]

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
A monotypic genus with the only species, Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv. (the African tulip-tree), a large pioneer tree native to tropical Africa, but now with a pantropical distribution.
Morphology General Habit
Tree up to 25 m tall
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, margins entire, pseudo-stipules leafy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence terminal, sub-umbellate, thyrsoid; calyx spathaceous, ribbed, narrowing to a recurved tip, 1-parted to base, water-filled in bud; corolla red to orange, broadly campanulate above and cylindrical at base; stamens 4, included in corolla; anthers glabrous, thecae divaricate, staminode present; ovary narrowly oblong, papillose with numerous, multiseriate ovules per locule; disk annular. Fruit narrowly oblong-elliptic, subtended by calyx, valves keeled
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds flat with broad hyaline wings.
Ecology
Growing in open secondary vegetation, often along roadsides. Since its introduction, the tree has become a most successful woody invader of open vegetation and secondary forests (where it can be sub-dominant) in New Guinea, up to 1000 m.
Recognition
Spathodea campanulata can be easily recognised as big trees with red to orange flowers borne in terminal inflorescences, and the ever-present elliptic 2-valved capsules.
[TONG]

Sources

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0