Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz
Family
Bignoniaceae
Synonyms
Bignonia indica L. var. α, Bignonia pentandra Lour., Calosanthes indica (L.) Blume.
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Beka, bonglai, kulai. |
|
English |
Midnight horror. |
|
Indonesia |
Pongporang (Sundanese), kayu lanang, mungli (Javanese). |
|
Philippines |
Pingka-pingkahan (Tagalog), abong-abong (Bisaya), kamkampilan (Iloko). |
|
Cambodia |
Pi ka. |
|
Laos |
Lin may, ung ka. |
|
Thailand |
Phe kaa (Central), litmai (Northern), lin faa (North-eastern). |
|
Vietnam |
N[us]c n[as]c, ho[af]ng b[as] nam, m[ooj]c h[oof] di[eej]p. |
Geographical Distributions
Oroxylum indicum is found from India eastward to southern China and the Philippines, and throughout Southeast Asia; From Indonesia eastward to Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is locally cultivated near human settlements.
Description
Oroxylum indicum is a semi-deciduous and sparingly branched tree that can grow up to 27 m tall. Its trunk is up to 40 cm in diametre, with grey bark, with prominent leaf scars, thick twigs, pithy but turns hollow later and lenticellate.
The leaves are crowded, imparipinnate, 3-4 times pinnate and measure 0.5-2 m long. The petiole is long while rachis is swollen at points of insertion. The stipules are absent. The leaflets are ovate to oblong, measuring 4-11(-15) cm x 3-9 cm, with wedge-shaped or mostly oblique base, acuminate at apex, entire and with scattered glands on the lower surface.
The inflorescence is an erect raceme, terminal, measures 25-150 cm long, and with peduncle and partitioned rachis. The flowers are bisexual while the pedicel is 2-4 cm long and bracteolate. The sepal is coriaceous, bell-shaped, containing water in bud, measures 2-4 cm long, 1.5-2 cm in diametre, brown or dirty violet and becoming almost woody in fruit. The petal is funnel-shaped, measures about 10 cm long with 5 lobes, subequal, with wrinkled margin, reddish outside and yellowish to pinkish inside. There are 5 stamens that are inserted in the throat and hairy at the base. The ovary is superior, 2-celled and many-ovuled.
The fruit is a pendent capsule, sword-shaped measuring 45-120 cm x 6-10 cm, with flat valves, almost woody and finally black.
The seed measures 5-9 cm x 2.5-4 cm, including the membranous and transparent wing. Seedling is with epigeal germination. The hypocotyl is elongated while cotyledons are leafy.
Ecology / Cultivation
Oroxylum indicum is a short-lived nomad tree, nowhere gregarious, always encountered in canopy openings, secondary growths and thickets. It tolerates a wide range of both climatic and soil conditions, and occurs mostly below 1000 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
