hints, allegations and things left unsaid...: More on the African Tulip Tree

hints, allegations and things left unsaid...

More on the African Tulip Tree

Here some more pieces of information that I’ve collected on this tree. The tree is also known as Scarlet-Bell tree, Fountain tree, Squirt tree and African Torch or Flame tree. ‘Tulip tree’ is merely an allusion to the resemblance of the flowers of this tree with Tulips and this is where the tenuous commonality ends. It is a native to equatorial Africa but is now widely grown all over the world in the tropics.

I am no authority on Indian names of this tree, but this is what the index of Indic names at in my Atlas of Major Flowering Trees in India (from where I’ve gleaned most of the information I present here) informs me:

In Hindi it’s called Rugtoora, in Kannada by several names - Nirukavi, Nirkai, Ucche Kai, Lujjekaye, Neerukaye, in Tamizh it’s Patadi while in Telugu it is called Patadi Patadiya

posted: 6.10.05

4 Comments

Beautiful, beautiful picture! These are in full bloom here as well. Oh well, it's that magical time of the year at Coimbatore.

By

Anonymous, at 7.10.05

I know this tree they have these green pods filled with a spurious bitter liquid. Don't they ?

By

Unknown, at 9.10.05

:-) Thanks Aarthi!

Hey Akshay, not sure if the tree ever bears pods. I've only seen it bear flowers. However, the calyx of the flower does squirt water when pinched.

By

Deepak, at 9.10.05

Serenely beautiful :-)

By

G Shrivastava, at 10.10.05

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