Stereospermum colais
| Yellow snake tree | |
|---|---|
| Flowers of S. colais photographed near Panavally, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Bignoniaceae |
| Genus: | Stereospermum |
| Species: | S. colais
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stereospermum colais | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
List
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Stereospermum colais, the yellow snake tree, is 15–20 m tall, trunk 15–25 cm in diam, large leaves 25–50 cm; leaflets 3–6 on each side of midrib, long elliptic, 8-14 X 2.5–6 cm. Large, pale yellow, trumpet shaped flowers occur in panicles. Flowers are pale yellow, slightly curved, about 2 cm, upper lip 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobed, tomentose at mouth, tube terete. The fruit is long, 4-angular, slightly curved, 30–70 cm, about 1 cm in diameter. This, probably, is the source of its common name, snake tree.
It is found in India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka: where it is "common in moist deciduous forests and occasional in openings or margins of evergreen forests, up to 1200 m."[3]
In Vietnam, Stereospermum colais is known as quao núi. Its young leaves can be eaten as a vegetable in Vietnam's Central Highlands.
References
- ^ de Kok, R. (2024). "Stereospermum colais". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T224744792A224744797. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T224744792A224744797.en.
- ^ "Stereospermum colais (Buch.-Ham. ex Dillwyn) Mabb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ India Biodiversity Portal