Plant · GBIF taxon 3172574
Spathodea campanulata
spathodea campanulataAlso known as African Tulip Tree, Nandi Flame, Fountain Tree, Flame of the Forest
African tulip trees display dramatic orange-scarlet, cup-shaped flowers that bloom in conspicuous terminal clusters against dense evergreen foliage. Unopened flower buds swell with watery fluid, which birds and nectar-feeding bats frequently pierce in search of moisture. Though widely planted as an ornamental throughout the tropics, it aggressively colonizes disturbed forests and abandoned land outside its native range.
Tropical TreeShowy BloomInvasive Species
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Herbivorous Insects
- Caterpillars
ThreatsInvasive in introduced ranges; habitat degradation in parts of its native range
HabitatsTropical dry forests, rainforest margins, disturbed valleys, and urban landscapes
Life span50 to 100 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyBignoniaceae
- GenusSpathodea
- Speciesspathodea campanulata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Bud Fluid: Gently squeeze unopened flower buds to release trapped water, a trick known to local birdwatchers.
- Pollinator Watching: Observe open blossoms at dawn to spot feeding sunbirds and hummingbirds.
- Seed Spotting: Look for large, boat-shaped pods that split to release hundreds of papery winged seeds.
Family Relative O Tupinólogo / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Family Relative (c) Robert Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Robert Taylor · cc-by
Family Relative (c) Francisco Farriols Sarabia, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Relative (c) alessandradalia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by alessandradalia · cc-by-sa
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