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Tabebuia aurea

(Silva Manso) Benth. & Hook.f. ex S. Moore

Golden trumpet tree

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Tabebuia aurea is a species of Tabebuia native to South America in Suriname, Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The common English name Caribbean trumpet tree is misleading, as it is not native to the Caribbean. It is also known as the silver trumpet tree, and tree of gold.

Description

A small tree. It grows 10-16 m tall. The branches are covered with scales. The leaves are compound and have leaflets like fingers on a hand. There are 5-7 leaflets. They are 6-14 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The flowers are in a bell shaped structure and these have 5 irregular lobes. The flowers are yellow and 5-6 cm long and funnel shaped. The fruit are 10-12 cm long by 1-1.2 cm wide. The seeds are oblong and 2 cm long.

Edible Uses

The flowers are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela,

Cultivation

This tree is found in a wide variety of habitats - forms from the north of its range succeed in marshy or seasonally inundated soils whilst forms from the south grow in well-drained, seasonally very dry soils. Growing wild in harsh conditions, it may develop 'rubbery' growth and become unstable in overly fertile soil. Freshly planted young trees are slow to establish and grow away.

Propagation

Seed - remains viable for at least 4 months. It is best sown as soon as it is ripe in individual containers. The germination rate is usually over 50%, with seeds sprouting in 10 - 20 days.

Other Uses

The wood is hard, moderately heavy, of low resistance to rot. It is moderately textured, of irregular grain and extremely flexible. It is used for tool handles, objects that need to be curved, flexible rulers, furniture, frames, construction etc.

Synonyms

Bignonia aurea Silva MansoGelseminum caraiba (Mart.) KuntzeHandroanthus caraiba (Mart.) MattosHandroanthus leucophloeus (Mart. ex A.DC.) MattosTabebuia argentea (Bureau & K.Schum.) BrittonTabebuia caraiba (Mart.) BureauTabebuia suberosa RusbyTecoma argentea Bureau & K.Schum.Tecoma aurea (Silva Manso) A.DC.Tecoma caraiba Mart.Tecoma caraiba var. grandiflora Hassl.Tecoma caraiba var. squamellulosa (A.DC.) Bureau & K.Schum.Tecoma leucophloeus Mart. ex A.DC.Tecoma squamellulosa A.DC.Tecoma trichocalycina A.DC.

Also Known As

Alcornoque, Alchornoque, Caraiba, Caraibeira, Carauba, Caroba-do-campo, Caribbean trumpet-tree, Cinco-folhas-do-campo, Cinco-em-rama, Craibeira, Ipe, Ipe-amarelo, Lapacho amarillo, Paraguayan trumpet-tree, Paratodo, Paratudo, Pau-d'arco, Tajibillo, Tajibo morado

References (2)

  • Bortolotto, I. M., et al, 2018, Lista preliminar das plantas alimenticias nativas de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Iheringia, Serie Botanica, Porto Alegre, 73 (supl.):101-116
  • Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 647

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