Trees of Cloudbridge
Tecoma stans (Candelillo, yellow elder)
Description:
Also
referred to as Vainillo, Roble Amarillo, Ginger Thomas,
Trumpet Flower and other names, it is predominantly a fast-growing,
dense evergreen small tree, of approximately 6 to 10 meters in height
and spread. It has an irregular, oval and
moderately dense crown that provides good shade and color.
Natural
history: Tecoma stans requires full sun exposure and does not tolerate heavy
frost. It prefers well drained soils but will grow on a
wide variety of soils, including sand and limerock. It is a drought
tolerant shrub and is relatively resistant to pests. The tree has flowers
and fruits year round in climates of small or no seasonal change and
during autumn in seasonal climates.
Distribution: Tecoma stans is
a tropical tree, predominantly found in Central and South America, although, its native environment extends from
the southern states of the U.S. to the north of Argentina. This shrub
has also become established in other tropical and subtropical areas
such as in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia. Some tropical countries
have reported tecoma stans being invasive and sometimes difficult to
control, establishing naturalized colonies that might inhibit
regeneration of other plant species.
How
to recognize: Year-round yellow bell-shaped flowers. Saplings have
smooth, squarish stems; mature plants have smooth, squarish twigs.
Uses: A
popular ornamental tree. Its profuse bright yellow bloom has made the
species much loved throughout the tropics. Other than for ornamental
purposes, the leaves, barks and roots have been used for a variety of
purposes in herbal medicine. Applications include the experimental
treatment of diabetes, digestive problems, control of yeast infections
and other medicinal applications. Given its relatively small and curved
trunk, the tree is not too desirable for the timber industry, with the
exception of the lathing of wood articles.
Sources and Links:
INBio description
SysTax
and others
Scientific Information:
| Division: |
Magnoliophyta
|
| Class: |
Magnoliopsida
|
| Order: |
Scrophulariales
|
| Family: |
Bignoniaceae
|
| Species: |
Tecoma stans (L.)
Juss. ex Kunth |
Photo
Identification Guide: Tecoma
stans
(Candelillo, yellow elder)
Leaves. Leaves are bright
green, of opposite configuration and of lanceolate and ovate shape. The
blade is approximately 5 cm to 8 cm in length and narrow, serrated and
sharply pointed. The leaf type is odd pinnately compound and its
venation is curved toward the apex. The texture of the leaf is slightly
hairy on the underside along the midrib and in the vein axils.
|
 |
| Flowers. Flowers are 2.5 cm to 5
cm long, of sunshine and brilliant yellow color and trumpet shaped.
They hang in showy clusters at the branch tips and forks of the tree.
There are two folds along the bottom of the fragrant flower's throat
and several delicate rust-red lines decorating the interior. The
flowers are normally pollinated by hummingbirds, bees and other insects. |
|
| Fruit and Seeds. Fruits are 10 cm to 20
cm long string bean like capsules that hang in vertical clusters and
appear throughout the growing season, immediately after blooming. These
fruits, after turning brown, they open and release a large number of
flat oblong seeds. |
|
| Trunk. Tecoma stans has a
tendency to grow with several trunks. As an ornamental it can be
trained to grow with a single trunk. The bark on
the main trunk is light brown and becomes corky with age. |
|
| Form. A densely branched
shrub or small tree, of approximately 6 to 10 meters in height and
spread. It has an irregular, oval and moderately
dense crown. |
|
| Saplings. Saplings display a
multi-stem configuration of many pale-green tone and multiple serrated
leaves |
 |
| Other. The tree has
smooth squarish twigs that are green in color and turn tan or reddish
tan as they age.
|
|
Cloudbridge: Bridging
a Costa Rican cloud forest