Stereospermum colais

Stereosperma colais, commonly known as the "Tree of Life" in certain tropical regions, is a significant medicinal plant valued for its diverse therapeutic properties. Renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, it is traditionally used in herbal remedies to treat skin ailments, digestive issues, and various systemic infections.

  • Scientific name: Stereospermum colais
  • Family: Bignoniaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is further categorized under the family Bignoniaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Stereospermum.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Lamiales WCVP
Family Bignoniaceae WCVP
Genus Stereospermum WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Stereospermum colais, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Malayalam, it is known as പാതിരി (ml), while in Telugu, it is called అంబువాసిని (te). Its names in Chinese include 羽叶楸 (zh), 羽叶楸 (zh-cn), and 羽叶楸 (zh-tw).
Language Common Name Source
ml പാതിരി Wikidata
te అంబువాసిని Wikidata
zh 羽叶楸 Wikidata
zh-cn 羽叶楸 Wikidata
zh-tw 羽叶楸 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it is primarily found throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits the country of Bangladesh. Additionally, the species is located within the East Himalaya region. Finally, it is widely distributed across various parts of India.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya WCVP
Indian Subcontinent India WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Nepal WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Sri Lanka WCVP
Indo-China Cambodia WCVP
Indo-China Laos WCVP
Indo-China Myanmar WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Stereospermum colais, utilizes its stem bark as a primary component for various traditional medicinal applications. The bark is harvested from the main trunk or branches and is often processed to extract its bioactive compounds, which are believed to possess various therapeutic properties. In many herbal practices, the stem bark is prepared in forms such as decoctions or powders to address specific health concerns, highlighting the functional importance of this particular plant part in ethnobotanical use.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
stem bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Stereospermum colais has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antiperoxidative, Free-Radical Scavenging.

Total activities
3
Scientific sources
3

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antidiabetic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antiperoxidative 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Free-Radical Scavenging 1 ★☆☆☆☆