Indian Trumpet Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian Trumpet Tree
• Broken Bones Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calosanthes indica
• Spathodea indica
• Hippoxylon indica
• Arthrophyllum reticulatum
• Bignonia pentandra
• Arthrophyllum ceylanicum
• Bignonia lugubris
• Bignonia indica
• Bignonia tuberculata
• Bignonia quadripinnata
• Oroxylum flavum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Oroxylum indicum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales. It is further categorized into the family Bignoniaceae and the genus Oroxylum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it is primarily found throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the state of Assam. Additionally, the species can be located across the landscape of Bangladesh. Finally, it inhabits the mountainous regions of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Oroxylum indicum is characterized by its adaptability across diverse altitudinal gradients within its natural habitats. This species is typically found distributed across a broad vertical range, spanning from lower elevations starting at 200 m AMSL up to montane reaches of 1600 m AMSL. This significant elevational breadth suggests that the plant can tolerate varying thermal regimes and atmospheric pressures, allowing it to inhabit multiple ecological niches ranging from lowland tropical environments to higher-altitude subtropical zones. Such a wide distribution facilitates its presence in various forest types, where it must compete for light and nutrients while responding to the specific microclimatic shifts associated with changing altitudes.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Oroxylum indicum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems or branches, a growth form that enables it to establish a substantial structural presence. This phanerophyte life strategy, specifically categorized under the broader life form classifications, ensures its long-term survival and ability to withstand seasonal variations through its perennial development.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Oroxylum indicum is characterized by its stature as a woody tree that reaches a significant height, with an average height of approximately 10 m and a maximum potential height of up to 18 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, remaining firmly rooted in the ground. The plant is strictly self-supporting in its growth habit, lacking any climbing or vine-like qualities, and it maintains an independent existence without acting as an obligatory or facultative parasite on other organisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Oroxylum indicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among many woody dicotyledonous species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil matrix to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein and nucleic acid synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Oroxylum indicum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, with specific interactions involving bats. The plant produces fleshy fruits that are classified as capsules. These fruits are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a consistent volume of 100 mm³, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values being 100 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are relatively small and uniform, with a mean seed mass of 0.0948 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0916 g to a maximum of 0.098 g. Following the maturation of the fruit, the dispersal syndrome is anemochorous, indicating that the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.098 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0948 g

Seed mass min:

0.0916 g

Seed volume max:

100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Oroxylum indicum has 5 reported plant parts identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem, seed.

Fruit

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Die Pharmazie

Leaf

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Drug and chemical toxicology
3. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Root

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Oroxylum indicum has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include baicalein, chrysin, Flavonoids, Oroxylin A, Baicalin.

baicalein

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Heliyon
3. Fitoterapia
4. Natural product research
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

chrysin

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3. Fitoterapia
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries

Flavonoids

1. Current medicinal chemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Oroxylin A

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3. Fitoterapia
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Baicalin

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Oroxin A

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Baicalein-7-O-gentiobioside

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROFORM

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Cyclohexanols

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Oroxylum indicum has 21 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Cardioprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Cardiovascular toxicology
2. PloS one
3. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries

Anticancer

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
2. Current medicinal chemistry
3. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Analgesic

1. International journal of inflammation
2. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
3. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardioprotective

1. Cardiovascular toxicology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Toxicology mechanisms and methods

Hepatoprotective

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Toxicology mechanisms and methods

Antibacterial

1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiulcer

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Toxicology mechanisms and methods

Astringent

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Oroxylum indicum has 45 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, inflammation, cancer, jaundice, arthritis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations