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Tales in scarlet
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This ornamental tree can add colour to your garden
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PAINT IT RED The blood-red flowers have abundant nectar, attracting bees and butterflies
Spathodea campanulata or the Tulip tree is a ornamental, belongs to the family Bignoniaceae from tropical Africa. It's popularly known as African Tulip tree, Foundation tree and the `Flame of the forest'.
Spathodea Campanulata is moderately branched, leafy tree with opposite pinnate leaves 18 inches long, each comprising 9 -19 oblong to ovate leathery deep green leaflets.
The asymmetrical bell-shaped yellow-rimmed scarlet or blood red flowers of the tree are two to four inches long.
The flower which have a crepe-like texture are yellowish green inside and blooms in summer. The flowers have a fragrance, which attract birds, bees and animals. The trees grow up to 20 metres.
They require moist soil. Water freely and when the tree is growing fertilise the soil with a liquid fertiliser. These are ideal avenue trees and also specimen trees. The name `Fountain tree' originated because the soft buds contain doculiquid; when the buds are squeezed it squirts water.
`Spathodoa' is a Greek word meaning `Spatha' referring to the ladle like shape of the calyx and campanulata describes the bell shape of the flower.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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