African tulip tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fountain Tree
• Nandi Flame
• African-tuliptree
• flame-of-the-forest
• flametree
• tuliptree
• African Flame Tree
• Flame of the forest

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Bignoniaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Spathodea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range that spans across several distinct regions. Within the Macaronesian islands, its presence is noted in Madeira. Its distribution extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, where it can be found in Benin. Furthermore, the species inhabits several coastal nations, including Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its documented range includes the country of Guinea, completing its West African presence.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spathodea campanulata is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant adaptability to various environments, frequently colonizing anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where it often thrives in disturbed landscapes and human-modified habitats. Its ability to inhabit such a wide elevational range and persist in human-influenced ecosystems suggests a resilient ecological strategy suitable for diverse climatic conditions across its range.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Spathodea campanulata are characterized by significant chromosomal variation and a specific ploidy structure. Research into its karyotype reveals a fluctuating chromosome number, with documented values of 26, 36, and 38, indicating a complex genomic makeup within the species. Despite this variation in chromosome count, the plant typically exhibits a diploid ploidy level of 2, suggesting that the observed differences in number may stem from structural rearrangements or specific chromosomal variations rather than whole-genome duplication events.

Chromosome number :

26, 36, 38

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Spathodea campanulata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, typically developing into a large, woody tree structure that defines its biological presence. This phanerophyte life form ensures that its buds and vegetative structures are held well above the ground, facilitating its survival and dominance within its native tropical ecosystems.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spathodea campanulata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. This species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. As a tree, it reaches significant dimensions, with a height ranging from a minimum of 6 meters to a maximum of 25 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 23 meters. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, allowing it to stand as a self-supporting organism without the need for climbing or liana-like behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

23 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spathodea campanulata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural environment. The plant does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized water-storage tissues within its vegetative structures, and it is not a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements. Its foliar morphology plays a significant role in its physiological exchange with the atmosphere; the leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 13 cm, with a width that spans from 4 cm to 7 cm. These leaf dimensions contribute to the total surface area available for transpiration and gas exchange, supporting the plant's metabolic functions.

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spathodea campanulata is characterized by a highly variable flowering period that can occur throughout the entire year, spanning from January through December. The flowers are notable for their size, with widths ranging between 4.5 cm and 5 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which typically measures between 17 cm and 25 cm in length. These fruits are dehiscence-type, meaning they split open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds themselves are quite lightweight, with a mean mass of approximately 0.005204 g, though they can range from a minimum of 0.004 g to a maximum of 0.00787 g. Dispersal is primarily an anemochorous process, where the seeds are spread by wind, facilitating the colonization of new areas.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower width max:

5 cm

Flower width min:

4.5 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

25 cm

Fruit length min:

17 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass max:

0.00787 g

Seed mass mean:

0.005204 g

Seed mass min:

0.004 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Spathodea campanulata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf.

Stem

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

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Spathodea campanulata has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, triterpenoids, Glycosides, Iridoids, MALTOL.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of parasitology research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

triterpenoids

1. Journal of parasitology research
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Glycosides

1. Journal of parasitology research

Iridoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

MALTOL

1. Journal of parasitology research

Phytol

1. Journal of parasitology research

Saponins

1. Journal of parasitology research

Sterols

1. Journal of parasitology research

THYMOL

1. Journal of parasitology research

Tannins

1. Journal of parasitology research

Activities

Spathodea campanulata has 6 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anticomplement, Antineoplastic, Antiviral.

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

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

Anticomplement

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antineoplastic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypoglycemic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Spathodea campanulata has 15 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, HHV-1, Helicobacter pylori.

Candida albicans

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Escherichia coli

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Hhv-1

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Helicobacter pylori

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Salmonella typhimurium

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antineoplastic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancers

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Spathodea campanulata has 9 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, extracts obtained from stem bark, infusion (water), leaf infusion, leaf methanolic extract.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts obtained from stem bark

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Infusion (water)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf infusion

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf methanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaves-meoh extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem bark

1. Journal of parasitology research