View source for Biology:Oroxylum indicum

{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Oroxylum indicum Blanco1.219.png
|image_caption = Plate from book ''Flora de Filipinas'', Gran edicion, Atlas I. by Francisco Manuel Blanco, 1880-1883? where name is ''Bignonia quadripinnata'', Blanco.
|display_parents = 2
|genus = Oroxylum
|parent_authority = Vent.
|species = indicum
|authority = ([[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) Benth. ex Kurz
|synonyms =
* ''Arthrophyllum ceylanicum'' Miq.	
* ''Arthrophyllum reticulatum'' Blume ex Miq.	
* ''Bignonia indica'' L.
* ''Bignonia lugubris'' Salisb.
* ''Bignonia pentandra'' Lour.
* ''Bignonia quadripinnata'' Blanco
* ''Bignonia tripinnata'' Noronha
* ''Bignonia tuberculata'' Roxb. ex DC.
* ''Calosanthes indica'' (L.) Blume
* ''Hippoxylon indica'' (L.) Raf.
* ''Oroxylum flavum'' Rehder
* ''Oroxylum indicum'' Vent. nom. inval.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do;jsessionid=DC488BC0FF8BF223E9379C8EDFB111A9?id=60442729-2&back_page=%2Fipni%2FeditAdvPlantNameSearch.do%3Bjsessionid%3DDC488BC0FF8BF223E9379C8EDFB111A9%3Ffind_infragenus%3D%26find_isAPNIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_geoUnit%3D%26find_includePublicationAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_addedSince%3D%26find_family%3D%26find_genus%3Doroxylum%26find_sortByFamily%3Dtrue%26find_isGCIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_infrafamily%3D%26find_rankToReturn%3Dall%26find_publicationTitle%3D%26find_authorAbbrev%3D%26find_infraspecies%3D%26find_includeBasionymAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_modifiedSince%3D%26find_isIKRecord%3Dtrue%26find_species%3Dindicum%26output_format%3Dnormal|title=The International Plant Names Index}}</ref>
* ''Spathodea indica'' (L.) Pers.
|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{ThePlantList | id = kew-317739 | taxon = Oroxylum indicum | authority = (L.) Kurz | accessdate = 31 Mar 2016 }}</ref>
|}}

'''''Oroxylum indicum''''' is a species of [[Biology:Flowering plant|flowering plant]] belonging to the monotypic genus '''''Oroxylum''''' and the family [[Biology:Bignoniaceae|Bignoniaceae]], and is commonly called '''Indian trumpet tree''',<ref name=NCBI>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3425058/ A Review on the Taxonomy, Ethnobotany, Chemistry and Pharmacology of Oroxylum indicum Vent]</ref> '''oroxylum''',<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN | access-date = 15 December 2017}}</ref> '''Indian trumpet flower''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=8133|title=Ecoport}}</ref> '''broken bones''',<ref name="bones">{{cite web|title=Broken bones tree|url=http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Broken%20Bones%20Tree.html|publisher=Flowers of India|access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref> '''Indian caper''', '''scythe tree'''<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/species/a---l/b/bignoniaceae/oroxylum/oroxylum-indicum efloraofindia - Oroxylum indicum]</ref> or '''tree of Damocles'''.<ref name="ijps">{{cite journal|pmc=3425058|year=2011|last2=Singh|first2=V|last3=Chaudhary|first3=A. K|title=A Review on the Taxonomy, Ethnobotany, Chemistry and Pharmacology of Oroxylum indicum Vent|journal=Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences|volume=73|issue=5|pages=483–490|doi=10.4103/0250-474X.98981|last1=Chaudhary|first1=AK|pmid=22923859 |doi-access=free }}</ref> It can reach a height of {{convert|18|m|ft}}. Various segments of the tree are used in [[Medicine:Traditional medicine|traditional medicine]],<ref name=ijps/> where it is known as '''Shyonaka''' or '''Sona Patha'''.<ref>[https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/16688 India Biodiversity Portal - Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz]</ref>

==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 {{convert|1|m|ft}} in length and comparably wide,<ref name=bones/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/read.cfm?NewsID=881|title=The Midnight Horror Tree| last=Phillipps| first=Anthea| date=22 April 2012 |access-date= 5 September 2012}}</ref> borne on [[Biology:Petiole (botany)|petiole]]s or stalks up to {{convert|2|m|ft}} in length, making this the largest of all dicot tree leaves, which are quadripinnate (leaflets display four orders of branching).<ref>{{cite book | last= Corner | first= Prof. E.J.H. |date= 1952  | title= Wayside Trees of Malaya | location= Singapore | publisher= Govt. Printing Office | volume= 1 | page= 166 }}</ref>

The tree is a night-bloomer and flowers are adapted to natural pollination by bats.<ref name=bones/> They form enormous seed pods &ndash; the fruits &ndash; are up to {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} long that hang down from bare branches, resembling [[Engineering:Sword|sword]]s.<ref name=bones/><ref>{{cite book |vauthors=Barwick M, van der Schans A| date= 2004 |title= Tropical and Subtropical Trees - An Encyclopedia | location= Portland | publisher= Timber Press | page= 304 }}</ref> 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".<ref name=ijps/> The seeds are round with papery wings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=620&taxon_id=200021430|title=''Oroxylum indicum''|publisher=Dinghushan Plant Checklist, Chinese Academy of Science|website=eFloras.org}}</ref>

==Distribution==
''Oroxylum indicum'' is native to the [[Earth:Indian subcontinent|Indian subcontinent]], the Himalayan foothills with a part extending to Bhutan and southern China, [[Place:Indochina|Indochina]] and the [[Biology:Malesia|Malesia]] regions.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} 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<ref name="Theobald">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.</ref> and also in Mizoram.

==Ecology==
''Oroxylum indicum'' lives in relationship with the actinomycete ''[[Biology:Pseudonocardia oroxyli|Pseudonocardia oroxyli]]'' present in the soil surrounding the roots.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Pseudonocardia oroxyli sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from surface-sterilized Oroxylum indicum root|first1=Qiang|last1=Gu|first2=Hongli|last2=Luo|first3=Wen|last3=Zheng|first4=Zhiheng|last4=Liu|first5=Ying|last5=Huang|date=1 September 2006|journal=Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol.|volume=56|issue=Pt 9|pages=2193–2197|doi=10.1099/ijs.0.64385-0|pmid=16957120|doi-access=free}}</ref> ''Septobasidium bogoriense'' is a [[Biology:Fungus|fungal]] species responsible for velvet blight in ''O. indicum''.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

==Phytochemistry==
Various segments of ''O. indicum'', including leaves, root bark, heartwood, and seeds, contain diverse [[Chemistry:Phytochemical|phytochemical]]s, such as [[Chemistry:Prunetin|prunetin]], sitosterol, [[Chemistry:Oroxindin|oroxindin]], oroxylin-A, biochanin-A, [[Chemistry:Ellagic acid|ellagic acid]], [[Chemistry:Tetuin|tetuin]], anthraquinone, and [[Chemistry:Emodin|emodin]].<ref name=ijps/><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.rsc.org/publishing/journals/JR/article.asp?doi=jr9360000591|title=131. The constitution of oroxylin-A, a yellow colouring matter from the root-bark of Oroxylum indicum, vent|first1=R. C.|last1=Shah|first2=C. R.|last2=Mehta|first3=T. S.|last3=Wheeler|date=1 January 1936|journal=J. Chem. Soc.|pages=591–593|doi=10.1039/JR9360000591}}</ref> Several of the compounds are under preliminary research to identify their potential biological properties.<ref name=ijps/>

==Uses==
The tree is often grown as an ornamental plant for its strange appearance. Materials used include the wood, [[Chemistry:Tannin|tannin]]s and dyestuffs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=Alexander |display-authors=0 |date=2017-03-29 |title=Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas |url= |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |volume=13 |issue=21 |page=21 |doi=10.1186/s13002-017-0148-9 |pmc=5372287 |pmid=28356115 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===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 [[Physics:Mobile (sculpture)|sculptures]] or garlands made from ''O. indicum'' (Skr. shyonaka) seeds from the roof of their homes in belief they provide protection.<ref>{{cite book|title=Trees and Shrubs of Nepal and the Himalayas; page 200|vauthors=Storrs A, Storrs J |publisher=Pilgrims Books House|date=1990|isbn=9747315432}}</ref>

===As food===
[[File:Pickled Oroxylum indicum flower buds.jpg|thumb|Pickled [[Biology:Caper|caper]]-like flower buds of the scythe tree]]
It is a plant with edible leaves, flower buds, pods and stems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epic.kew.org/searchepic/detailquery.do?requiredPage=1&scientificName=oroxylum%20indicum&datasources=ipni&datasources=mc&datasources=kr&datasources=libcat&datasources=pmb&datasources=ebbd&datasources=ecbot&datasources=livcoll&datasources=herbcat&datasources=sid&datasources=sepasal&datasources=efz&categories=names&categories=bibl&categories=colln&categories=taxon&categories=flora&categories=misc&detailDatasource=sepasal|title=ePIC - Detailed results from SEPASAL for oroxylum indicum}}</ref> 
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.<ref>[http://www.thaifoodcook.info/headlines/thai-dishes-central-part-and-south/ Thai Dishes, Central Part And South] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330182049/http://www.thaifoodcook.info/headlines/thai-dishes-central-part-and-south/ |date=March 30, 2012 }}</ref> Known as karongkandai among the Bodos of north east India, its flowers and fruit are eaten as a bitter side dish with rice. Its fruit are eaten as a side dish and water of boiled leave and bark as traditional medicine in Mizoram. It is known in Mizoram as Archangkawm. 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.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc=7345792 | year=2020 | last1=Phumthum | first1=M. | last2=Balslev | first2=H. | title=Anti-Infectious Plants of the Thai Karen: A Meta-Analysis | journal=Antibiotics | volume=9 | issue=6 | page=298 | doi=10.3390/antibiotics9060298 | pmid=32498413 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

===In traditional medicines===
''Oroxylum indicum'' seeds are used in [[Medicine:Traditional medicine|traditional]] Indian [[Philosophy:Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] and Chinese medicines.<ref name=ijps/> Root bark is one of the ingredients thought to be useful in compound formulations in Ayurveda and other folk remedies.<ref name=ijps/><ref>{{cite journal|pmc=3545239|year=2012|last1=Doshi|first1=K|title=Anti-inflammatory activity of root bark and stem bark of Shyonaka|journal=Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine|volume=3|issue=4|pages=194–197|last2=Ilanchezhian|first2=R|last3=Acharya|first3=R|last4=Patel|first4=B. R.|last5=Ravishankar|first5=B|doi=10.4103/0975-9476.104434|pmid=23326090 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Jayaweera">Jayaweera, D.M.A. (1981). ''Medicinal Plants (Indigenous and Exotic) Used in Ceylon. Part I (Acanthaceae – Burseraceae).'' National Science Council of Sri Lanka, Colombo.</ref>

In India, bark decoction of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz. (Bignoniaceae) is used as a traditional medicine to cure intestinal-helminthic infections. The bark extract of O. indicum has shown concentration-dependent effects against the larval and adult Hymenolepis diminuta worms, and thus the extract holds promise in the control of intestinal helminthiases. Khirod Deori, Arun K Yadav: doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4864-6.

===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''.<ref>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.</ref>

==In mythology==
The [[Social:Onge language|Onge]] name for the tree is ''talaralu''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bhargava |first=N. |date=1983 |title=Ethnobotanical Studies of the Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. I. Onge. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4254461 |journal=Economic Botany |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=112 |doi=10.1007/BF02859311 |jstor=4254461 |s2cid=39096375 |via=JSTOR}}</ref> According to an Onge myth, the first of the Onge people, also named Onge, was created by ''Eyuge'' ([[Biology:Monitor lizard|monitor lizard]]) from oroxylum wood. Onge made a shelter and planted oroxylum trees around it, and created more human beings from the trees. The trees were planted in pairs, giving rise to both Onge men and women. Only Onge people were created in this way; Onge mythology offers no explanation for the existence of non-indigenous people or other indigenous Andamanese peoples.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Venkateswar |first=Sita |title=Development and Ethnocide: Colonial Practices in the Andaman Islands |publisher=IWGIA |year=2004 |isbn=9788791563041 |pages=51–53}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<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 [[Place:Bangkok|Bangkok]], Thailand
File:Oroxylum indicum.JPG|''Oroxylum indicum'' near Panchkhal, Nepal
</gallery>

==See also==
*List of Thai ingredients

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q3245941|from2=Q7103907}}

[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
[[Category:Monotypic Lamiales genera]]

{{Sourceattribution|Oroxylum indicum}}