Flowers of Bali

Balinese name: Karet-karetan
Indonesian name: Sepatu diat
Latin name: Spathodea campanulata
Family name: Bignoniaceae

African tulip tree is a fast growing evergreen tree that can grow up to 24 m in height. It has broadly oval-shaped leaves that are strongly veined, bronze when young and a deep, glossy green when mature. African tulip trees produce large flat clusters of velvety, bronze-green buds and large orange-red flowers with yellow frilly edges. Reddish-brown seed capsules are produced and can be up to 20 cm in length.

This native of tropical West Africa has been widely distributed along the roads of Bali by the Department of Forestry. It serves as a useful tall screen but requires good soil conditions for quick growth.

Description
A free-flowering medium to tall tree with dense foliage and bearing orange-red flowers arranged in spikes at the ends of branches. The flower bud is ampule-shaped and contains water. These buds are often used by children who play with its ability to squirt the water. The sap sometimes stains yellow on fingers and clothes. The open flowers are cup-shaped and hold rain and dew, making them attractive to many species of birds.

Flowers
Faintly fragrant, the flowers are reminiscent of tulips, forming large, orange-red cups about 7 cm long and 8 cm in diameter. The five petals are almost fused together. Inside the cup are four long stamens with dark-brown, T-shaped anthers and one long, thin, yellow pistil. The flower spike itself terminates in a cluster of brown buds, their tips extending outward and down to form a spherical mass that reminds one of a bear’s claw. These buds contain a clear liquid that spurts out when the bud is broken. This is what gives the flower its Balinese name, which refers to the spurting of water.

Leaves
Almost perfectly elliptical, about 5 by 10 cm, with a somewhat pointed end and prominent veins, carried on a thick stem.

Flowering
August to October

The main attraction of this ornamental tree is its large, tulip - shaped, orange - red flowers, sometimes 07 cm. in diameter, which appear several times a year in clusters at the ends of its higher branches. Each flower lasts for several days before it falls and is replaced by another; a cluster may thus continue to bloom for a month or more. The flowers are followed by long, boat - shaped pods which eventually split open to release masses of winged seeds. A rare variety has pure yellow flowers, but seeds rarely breed true and the only certain method of propagating these is by root cuttings.