Tecoma stans

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Scrophulariales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Tecoma
Species: T.stans
Scientific Name: Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth.

Common names
English: Yellow bells, Yellow trumpet, Yellow-Elder.
Hindi: Piliya.
Kannada: Koranekelar.
Marathi: Ghanti fuls.

Description

1. Habit and Habitat: A large shrub or small, much-branched, tree usually growing 1.5 to 5 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 10 m in height. A weed of roadsides, waterways (i.e. riparian areas), open woodlands, grasslands, forest margins, waste areas and disturbed sites in tropical and sub-tropical environments.
2. Distribution: Widely naturalised in the coastal districts of northern and eastern Australia (i.e. in northern and eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and northern and north-western Western Australia).
3. Morphology:
   Leaf: Compound, opposite, imparipinnate, leaflets 5-11, ovate-oblong to lanceolate, acuminate and serrate.
   Inflorescence: Terminal panicles.
   Flowers: Flowers Monoecious occur in clusters at the ends of the branches and are trumpet shaped with 5 rounded lobes, 6 cm long, pale to bright yellow, with faint orange stripes at the throat. Calyx cup-shaped, 5-fid. Corolla funnel-shaped or bell-shaped, lobes 5, wavy.
   Androecium: Stamens 4, didynamous, staminode present, anthers hairy, divergent.
   Gynoecium: Ovary seated on a wavy disk, style long, stigma 2-lipped.
   Fruit: Capsule, long, linear, flat, seeds winged.
   Seeds: many winged seeds, green when young, pale brown on ripening and remain on the tree in untidy clusters for many month.
   Flowering and Fruiting time: September – December.
4. Propagation: by seeds.
5. Importance: It is used as a garden ornament. It is used in cabinet making, turnery, to make tools, and in the construction of buildings.The flowers are diuretic. A leaf infusion can be taken orally for treating diabetes and stomach pain.
6. Location: Avenue, Ananth Manohar Garden, Sports Ground, Parking area, Library - Gymkhana.