Tecoma stans is a
semi-evergreen shrub or small tree, growing up to 10 m (30 ft) tall.[1] It features opposite
odd-pinnate green leaves, with 3 to 13 serrate, 8- to 10-cm-long leaflets. The leaflets,
glabrous on both sides, have a
lanceolate blade 2–10 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, with a long acuminate apex and a wedge-shaped base.
The large, showy, golden yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are in clusters at the ends of branches. The
corolla of the flower is bell- to funnel-shaped, five-lobed (weakly two-lipped), often reddish-veined in the throat and is 3.5 to 8.5 cm long. Flowering takes place from spring to fall, but more profusely from spring to summer.[5][6]
The fruits, narrow
capsules, arise from two
carpels and are up to 25 cm long. A fruit contains many yellow seeds with membranopus wings; when the fruit opens upon ripening, these seed are spread by the wind (
anemochory). The flowers attract
bees,
butterflies, and
hummingbirds.[7] Apart from sexually by seed, Tecoma stans can also be reproduced asexually by stem
cuttings.
Yellow trumpetbush is a
ruderal species, readily colonizing disturbed, rocky,
sandy, and cleared land and occasionally becoming an
invasive weed. It thrives in a wide variety of ecosystems, from high altitude
temperate forests and tropical deciduous and evergreen forests, to
xerophilous scrub and the intertropical
littoral. It quickly colonizes disturbed, rocky, sandy, and cleared fields. The species prefers dry and sunny regions of the coast.
Cultivation
Tecoma stans is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates. It is cultivated as an
ornamental. They are grown in many parts of the world for their beautiful flowering, to adorn streets and gardens. It can be easily propagated by stem
cuttings.
Uses
The wood of Tecoma stans is used in rustic architecture like bahareque, for the construction of furniture and canoes, or as
firewood or charcoal. It is a
medicinal plant used against
diabetes and against diseases of the
digestive system, among other uses. The plant is desirable
fodder when it grows in fields grazed by
livestock.
It is a very potent anti-venom against
cobravenom, used by Pakistani old medicine. It is proved to be better than
antiserum, the paste of this plant's leaves are applied topically on the cobra bite. Its bio-chemicals bind with the cobra venom
enzymes thus effectively inhibiting the venom.[8]
Tecoma stans is unique in that although it is nontoxic itself, the honey from its flowers is poisonous nonetheless.[9][10]
Invasiveness
Tecoma stans has invasive potential and occasionally becomes a weed. The species is considered invasive in Africa (especially South Africa), South America, Asia, Australia and the
Pacific Islands. It now presents a significant danger for biodiversity. It competes with local species and can form thick, almost monospecific
thickets.
^Anand, Mukul; Basavaraju, R. (January 2021). "A review on phytochemistry and pharmacological uses of Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 265: 113270.
doi:
10.1016/j.jep.2020.113270.
PMID32822823.