African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata)

Kiacret or African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) is a species of plant in Bignoniaceae, a medium to large tree, growing up to 35 m high, trunk diameter up to 175 cm, flowers are reddish orange or dark red or yellow and are widely planted as ornamental and shade trees in all over the tropics.

S. campanulata has a sturdy trunk and is occasionally supported, thick branches mottled with small white lenticels. The leaves are opposite and rarely have three at one knot, very wide and up to 50 cm long.

Leaf blade elliptical or ovate, whole, 15x7.5 cm with 7-8 main veins on each side, pubescent, protruding below, apex slightly sharp, base slightly asymmetrical, lower leaves tend to reflex, stalk up to 6 cm and thickened at the base.

The flower has a short stalk, 2-3 mm thick, the ribs are almost straight and pubescent brown. Raceme is 8-10 cm long on stalks of the same length and a pair of small leaves about halfway, rachis and stalk thick, pubescent brown, bracts subtending pedicels lanceolate, curved, about 1 cm long, caducous and a pair of bractlets near the pedicel-like apex.

The petals are strongly curved upward, asymmetrical, about 5 cm long, pointed, slightly striped, dividing when blooming up to several mm from the base along the curve of the dorsal, apex, horn-like, blunt, sericeous brownish pubic exterior.

Crown is reddish orange or dark red or yellow, 10-12 cm long, leg mouth about 7 cm, lobe about 3 cm long, blunt, very sharp edge and orange-yellow. The filaments are about 5 cm long, anthers are dull orange, linear, 15 mm long, yellow in color, 8 cm long and reddish pistils. The fruit is lanceolate and 17-25 x 3.5-7 cm.

African tulip tree grows naturally in secondary forest, high forest zone, deciduous transition forest, savanna forest and wet areas. This species rehabilitates degraded land through rapid growth. Creamy white, soft and light wood for carpentry, crates and covers. Edible seeds and plant extracts are used in medicine.

Ampoule-shaped flower buds and contain water, the buds are often used by children who play with their ability to spray water. The sap sometimes turns yellow on the fingers and on clothes. The open, cup-shaped, rain and dew resistant flowers are attractive to many bird species.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Tribe: Tecomeae
Genus: Spathodea
Species: Spathodea campanulata
Subspecies: Spathodea campanulata ssp. campanulata, Spathodea campanulata ssp. congolana, Spathodea campanulata ssp. nilotica

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