Oroxylum indicum

''Oroxylum indicum'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the monotypic genus ''Oroxylum'' and the family Bignoniaceae, and is commonly called Indian trumpet tree,A Review on the Taxonomy, Ethnobotany, Chemistry and Pharmacology of Oroxylum indicum Vent
/ref> oroxylum, Indian trumpet flower, broken bones, Indian caper, scythe tree or tree of Damocles. It can reach a height of . Various segments of the tree are used in traditional medicine, where it is known as Shyonaka or Sona Patha.

Description

The large leaf stalks wither and fall off the tree and collect near the base of the trunk, appearing to look like a pile of broken limb bones. The pinnate leaves are approximately in length and comparably wide, borne on petioles or stalks up to in length, making this the largest of all dicot tree leaves, which are quadripinnate (leaflets display four orders of branching).

The tree is a night-bloomer and flowers are adapted to natural pollination by bats. They form enormous seed pods – the fruits – are up to long that hang down from bare branches, resembling swords. The long fruits curve downward and resemble the wings of a large bird or dangling sickles or swords in the night, giving the name "tree of Damocles". The seeds are round with papery wings.

Distribution

''Oroxylum indicum'' is native to the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayan foothills with a part extending to Bhutan and southern China, Indochina and the Malesia regions. In Vietnam, the tree is called ''núc nác'' (sometimes ''sò đo''), and specimens can be found in Cat Tien National Park.

It is visible in the forest biome of Manas National Park in Assam, India. It is found, raised and planted in large number in the forest areas of the Banswara district in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is reported in the list of rare, endangered and threatened plants of Kerala (South India). It is also found in Sri Lanka.Theobald, W.L. (1981). ''Bignoniace.'' In: Dassanayake, M.D. and Fosberg, F.R. (Eds.). ''A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon.'' Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

Ecology

''Oroxylum indicum'' lives in relationship with the actinomycete ''Pseudonocardia oroxyli'' present in the soil surrounding the roots. ''Septobasidium bogoriense'' is a fungal species responsible for velvet blight in ''O. indicum''.

Phytochemistry

Various segments of ''O. indicum'', including leaves, root bark, heartwood, and seeds, contain diverse phytochemicals, such as prunetin, sitosterol, oroxindin, oroxylin-A, biochanin-A, ellagic acid, tetuin, anthraquinone, and emodin. Several of the compounds are under preliminary research to identify their potential biological properties.

Uses

The tree is often grown as an ornamental plant for its strange appearance. Materials used include the wood, tannins and dyestuffs.

In marriage rituals

The plant is used by the Kirat, Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu, Yakha, Tamang in Nepal, the Thai in Thailand and the Lao in Laos.

In the Himalayas, people hang sculptures or garlands made from ''O. indicum'' (Skr. shyonaka) seeds from the roof of their homes in belief they provide protection.

As food

It is a plant with edible leaves, flower buds, pods and stems.
The large young pods, known as ''Lin mai'' or ''Lin fa'' in Loei, are eaten especially in Thailand and Laos. They are first grilled over charcoal fire and then the inner tender seeds are usually scraped and eaten along with lap. Known as karongkandai among the Bodos of north east India, its flowers and fruit are eaten as a bitter side dish with rice. It is often prepared with fermented or dried fish and believed by them to have medicinal uses. The pods also eaten by Chakma people in Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh and India. Its called "Hona Gulo 𑄦𑄧𑄚 𑄉𑄪𑄣𑄮" in Chakma language.

The plant is an important food item among the Karen people, who also appreciate it for its medicinal value. The flower buds are boiled and pickled. The young pods are cut open raw and the tender seeds inside, having the color and texture of lettuce leaves, are used in various local dishes.

In traditional medicines

''Oroxylum indicum'' seeds are used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines. Root bark is one of the ingredients thought to be useful in compound formulations in Ayurveda and other folk remedies.Jayaweera, D.M.A. (1981). ''Medicinal Plants (Indigenous and Exotic) Used in Ceylon. Part I (Acanthaceae – Burseraceae).'' National Science Council of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

In art

Kelantanese and Javanese peoples forge a type of keris in the shape of the plant's seed pod called the ''keris buah beko''.Che Husna Azhari (2011). ''Artifak Sains Dan Teknologi Alam Melayu''. Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan: Institute of the Malay World & Civilization, National University of Malaysia. Pages 24–25.

Gallery

File:Oroxylum indicum W3 IMG 3170.jpg, Flowers
File:Oroxylum indicum W IMG 3169.jpg, Leaves
File:Oroxylum indicum W2 IMG 3171.jpg, Fruit
File:Oroxylum indicum250.jpg, The large ''Oroxylum indicum'' pods sold at a market in Bangkok, Thailand
File:Oroxylum indicum.JPG, ''Oroxylum indicum'' near Panchkhal, Nepal

See also

*List of Thai ingredients

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q3245941, from2=Q7103907

Bignoniaceae
Plants used in Ayurveda
Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine
Decorative fruits and seeds
Trees of the Indian subcontinent
Trees of Indo-China
Trees of Malesia
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Trees of Nepal