Spathodea

Spathodea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Clade: Crescentiina
Clade: Paleotropical clade
Genus: Spathodea
P.Beauv.
Species:
S. campanulata
Binomial name
Spathodea campanulata

Spathodea is a genus in the plant family Bignoniaceae. The single species it contains, Spathodea campanulata, is commonly known as the African tulip tree.[2] The tree grows between 7–25 m (23–82 ft) tall and is native to tropical dry forests of Africa. It has been nominated as among 100 of the "World's Worst" invaders.[3]

This tree is planted extensively as an ornamental tree throughout the tropics and is much appreciated for its very showy reddish-orange or crimson (rarely yellow), campanulate flowers. The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek words σπαθη (spathe) and οιδα (oida),[4] referring to the spathe-like calyx.[5] It was identified by Europeans in 1787 on the Gold Coast of Africa.[6]

  1. ^ Rivers, M.C. & Mark, J. (2017). "Spathodea campanulata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T49196213A49196223. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Spathodea campanulata​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  3. ^ "GISD".
  4. ^ Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants (4 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 357. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3.
  5. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. 4 R-Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 2526. ISBN 978-0-8493-2678-3.
  6. ^ African Tulip Tropical Tree