By Liliana Usvat
Blog 329-365
Have you planted a tree this year? Here is a suggestion.
African Tulip or Flame of the Forest Trees (English) Tulipan Chino (Spanish), Xukul Nicte (Maya) Spathodea campanulata, Spathodea is a monotypic genus species of the Bignoniaceae Family. Native to tropical Africa, the first Tulip tree planted at Hacienda Chichen's Tropical Gardens was brought by Mrs. Carmen G.Rul Barbachano in the 1960s as a rare exotic flowering tree. Today, the African Tulip or Flame or the Forest is an ornamental tree common in world tropical regions, as an amazingly beautiful tree with crimson campanulate flowers and foliage. Its exotic deeply bright orange-red flowers have striking golden yellow edges. The flower cup holds rain water and dew attracting hummingbirds, birds, and bats. Grows in full sun, limestone rich soil, and its seeds are propagated by wind, birds, and bats.
Medicinal Uses
The bark has laxative and antiseptic properties, and the seeds, flowers and roots are used as medicine. The bark is chewed and sprayed over swollen cheeks. The bark may also be boiled in water used for bathing newly born babies to heal body rashes.
An infusion of the leaves is used for urethral infections, and the dried and pulverized or even the fresh inner bark is applied to oozing ulcers. The tree also has UV absorbing properties and could be utilized as a cheap sunscreen.
A decoction of the bark is astringent and used as a laxative as well as for cases of dysentery and for other gastro-intestinal problems. A decoction of the bark and leaves is used as a lotion for inflamed skin and on rashes. The flowers can be applied directly onto wounds, as can the bruised leaves which have mild pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties. Both the bark and leaves have been found to have antiseptic actions.
Studies have found that the stem bark can lower blood sugar levels and so the traditional use of the bark for diabetes sufferers seems to have been borne out. (Journal of Phytotherapy Research, 1993 Vol. 7 (1) pp 64-69 Niyonzima, G. et al. Hypoglycaemic Activity of Spathodea campanulata stem bark decoction in mice.”) Extracts of the bark, leaves and roots have also been used to combat malaria and HIV and have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
Other Uses:
The seeds are edible. The soft, white timber used in making paper. In West Africa, their homeland, the wood is used to make drums and blacksmith's bellows.
It has shallow roots and a tendency for branches to break off in a storm. Thus it considered unsuitable as a roadside tree.
It can be used in coffee plantations to provide shade for the young plants.
Reforestation with African Tulip
A tree that invades abandoned agricultural land, roadsides, waterways, disturbed sites, waste areas, forest margins and disturbed rainforests in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It favours wetter habitats, and is especially common along creeks and gullies.
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Blog 329-365
Have you planted a tree this year? Here is a suggestion.
African Tulip or Flame of the Forest Trees (English) Tulipan Chino (Spanish), Xukul Nicte (Maya) Spathodea campanulata, Spathodea is a monotypic genus species of the Bignoniaceae Family. Native to tropical Africa, the first Tulip tree planted at Hacienda Chichen's Tropical Gardens was brought by Mrs. Carmen G.Rul Barbachano in the 1960s as a rare exotic flowering tree. Today, the African Tulip or Flame or the Forest is an ornamental tree common in world tropical regions, as an amazingly beautiful tree with crimson campanulate flowers and foliage. Its exotic deeply bright orange-red flowers have striking golden yellow edges. The flower cup holds rain water and dew attracting hummingbirds, birds, and bats. Grows in full sun, limestone rich soil, and its seeds are propagated by wind, birds, and bats.
Origin
Native to tropical western Africa (i.e. Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Zaire, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo and Angola).Medicinal Uses
The bark has laxative and antiseptic properties, and the seeds, flowers and roots are used as medicine. The bark is chewed and sprayed over swollen cheeks. The bark may also be boiled in water used for bathing newly born babies to heal body rashes.
An infusion of the leaves is used for urethral infections, and the dried and pulverized or even the fresh inner bark is applied to oozing ulcers. The tree also has UV absorbing properties and could be utilized as a cheap sunscreen.
A decoction of the bark is astringent and used as a laxative as well as for cases of dysentery and for other gastro-intestinal problems. A decoction of the bark and leaves is used as a lotion for inflamed skin and on rashes. The flowers can be applied directly onto wounds, as can the bruised leaves which have mild pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties. Both the bark and leaves have been found to have antiseptic actions.
Studies have found that the stem bark can lower blood sugar levels and so the traditional use of the bark for diabetes sufferers seems to have been borne out. (Journal of Phytotherapy Research, 1993 Vol. 7 (1) pp 64-69 Niyonzima, G. et al. Hypoglycaemic Activity of Spathodea campanulata stem bark decoction in mice.”) Extracts of the bark, leaves and roots have also been used to combat malaria and HIV and have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
Other Uses:
The seeds are edible. The soft, white timber used in making paper. In West Africa, their homeland, the wood is used to make drums and blacksmith's bellows.
It has shallow roots and a tendency for branches to break off in a storm. Thus it considered unsuitable as a roadside tree.
It can be used in coffee plantations to provide shade for the young plants.
Reforestation with African Tulip
A tree that invades abandoned agricultural land, roadsides, waterways, disturbed sites, waste areas, forest margins and disturbed rainforests in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It favours wetter habitats, and is especially common along creeks and gullies.
Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttingsFrom softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seedAllow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
