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Spathodea is a monotypic genus in the flowering plant family Bignoniaceae. The single species is Spathodea campanulata, known as the African tulip tree, Fountain tree, or Flame-of-the-forest. It is a tree that grows between 7-25 m tall, native to tropical Africa. This tree is planted extensively as an ornamental and shade tree throughout the tropics and is much appreciated for its very showy reddish-orange or crimson (rarely yellow), campanulate flowers.
The generic name comes from the Greek word, σφατηε, in reference to the spathe-like calyx.
Seed of the African tulip tree |
