Spathodea is a monotypic genus of flowering trees in the family Bignoniaceae, order Lamiales. It contains a single accepted species, Spathodea campanulata, commonly known as the African tulip tree or Nandi Flame. The tree typically grows between 7 and 25 metres tall and is native to the tropical dry forests of Africa, with a natural range spanning Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It was first documented by Europeans in 1787 on the Gold Coast of Africa.
Spathodea campanulata is best known for its spectacular reddish-orange to crimson, campanulate (bell-shaped) flowers, which are borne in dense terminal clusters. The flower buds are distinctively ampule-shaped and hold water, while the open flowers cup rain and dew, making them highly attractive to birds and, in the Neotropics, to hummingbirds. The soft wood is frequently used for nesting by hole-excavating birds such as barbets. The flowers are documented to be toxic to bees, including Australian native stingless bees.
Although prized as an ornamental tree throughout the tropics, S. campanulata has become a significant invasive species in Hawaii, Queensland (Australia), Fiji, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and parts of Sri Lanka, and has been nominated among the 100 "World's Worst" invasive species.
Etymology
The name Spathodea derives from the Ancient Greek words σπαθη (spathe, meaning a broad flat blade or spathe) and οιδα (oida, relating to appearance), referring to the spathe-like shape of the calyx.
Distribution
Spathodea campanulata is native to the tropical dry forests of Africa, with a natural range including Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It has been widely introduced across tropical regions and is naturalized in Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Zanzibar.
Ecology
The flowers of Spathodea campanulata cup rainwater and dew, attracting numerous bird species. In Neotropical parks and gardens, the nectar is sought by hummingbirds including the black-throated mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis), the black jacobin (Florisuga fusca), and the gilded hummingbird (Hylocharis chrysura). The soft wood is used for nesting by hole-building birds such as barbets. The flowers are toxic to bees, including the Australian native stingless bee Lipotriches (Austronomia) flavoviridis.
Conservation
Spathodea campanulata has been nominated among the 100 "World's Worst" invasive species. In Queensland, Australia, it is a declared class 3 pest species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. It is invasive in Hawaii, Queensland, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka.
