Arthrophyllum ceylanicum Miq.
Arthrophyllum reticulatum Blume
Arthrophyllum reticulatum Blume ex Miq.
Bignonia indica L.
Bignonia lugubris Salisb.
Bignonia pentandra Lour.
Bignonia quadripinnata Blanco
Bignonia tripinnata Noronha
Bignonia tuberculata Roxb.
Bignonia tuberculata Roxb. ex DC.
Calosanthes indica (L.) Blume
Hippoxylon indica (L.) Raf.
Oroxylum flavum Rehder
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent.
Spathodea indica (L.) Pers.

Bignoniaceae

This plant is part of the Bignoniaceae family. This tree can grow up to 12 m tall and is known for its large, flat seed pods. These pods are filled with many thin, flat seeds that have broad, silvery wings. The tree's leaves are quite large and can be oval or elliptical in shape, and they are divided into smaller leaflets.
The tree also has striking purple flowers that have a strong, unpleasant smell. These flowers bloom at night and are adapted for pollination by bats. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches wide, with leaflets that are 5 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide. The flower stalk is about 1 foot long, and the fruit pods range from 1 to 3 feet in length and 2 to 4 inches in width. The seeds themselves are flat and measure about 2 inches wide and 3 inches long. [4]

Native to: Andaman Is, Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya. [5]

North Laos Highlands
Northern Mekong Corridor
Northern Annamites
Lower Annamites

Evergreen forest
Coniferous forest

Native

Not invasive

Least concern

None

Food
Medicine

Food: This plant can be eaten boiled, Pickled or added to various dishes for flavor and nutrition. Young pods are grilled, the outer layer is scraped off, and the tender inner seeds are sliced. They are served with dipping sauces or added to curries. [7]. The seeds can be dried and ground into flour for making bread, such as chapatti, or they can be eaten raw. [8] Medicine: Oroxylum indicum has a variety of traditional medicinal uses in different Southeast and South Asian countries. It has been used for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anticancer, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant properties. The plant's major constituents, especially flavonoids, contribute to these medicinal benefits. Only aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark, root bark, and fruits have been assessed for safety and found to be non-toxic. [9]. In addition, it is used to treat various diseases such as urticaria, jaundice, asthma, sore throat, laryngitis, hoarseness, gastralgia, diarrhea, dysentery, infantile, erythema measles, etc. It also having potential to treat against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection in humans. [11] In Laos, young leaves, flowers, and pods of Oroxylum indicum are eaten with sauce, lad, or pickled fish. The pods are used as a laxa-tive, stomach reliever, body heat agent, and are consumed by the elderly to strengthen the body. Mature seeds are mixed with other medicinal plants to make a drink for treating coughs, stomachaches, pneumonia, acne, and abscesses. Tender pods, roots, stem and bitter bark are used to treat digestive tract pain, wounds, burns, and malaria. The bark also produces a yellow green to light brown dye. [10]

Both

January
February
March
April
November
December

Land preparation:
Soil testing & improvement: The land is tilled to make it porous, friable, and weed-free. Pits of appropriate size, preferably 60 cm × 60 cm × 60 cm, are dug in a square planting geometry (2 m × 2 m). Approximately, 10 kg FYM, 150 g of nitrogen, and 250 g of single super phosphate are mixed in the topsoil, and the pit is loosely filled back before planting. [12]

Planting techniques:
Planting techniques: Before field preparation, a nursery of the plants is raised in polythene bags during second half of March for seedling establishment. The polybags should be filled with sandy-loam soil with good quality, well-decomposed FYM (farm-yard manure) added to it in the ratio 2:1. After emergence of the seedlings, the plants are watered regularly to maintain optimum moisture level. In all, 250 g of seeds are sufficient to raise stock for plantation on 1 hectare of land. The seeds should be soaked in water for at least 12 hours before sowing to ensure good germination. [12]

Transplanting: Transplanting in the main field is done in the first week of July (with the onset of monsoon in central India). A spacing of 2 m × 2 m is considered appropriate. An optimum crop stand of 2500 plants/hectare is achieved with this spacing. Gap filling is done in September. [12]

Care and maintenance:
Watering and irrigation: Irrigation practices In the first year, irrigation should be done at least six to eight times but more frequent irrigation during the summer months (at an interval of 7–10 days) is desirable for maximum productivity. The check basin method is found best for irrigation. [12]

Pest and disease control:
Disease and pest control: No diseases and nematode attacks have been reported. However, leaf-eating caterpillars like Bihar hairy caterpillar (Diacrisia obliqua) And grasshopper’s damage leaves during rainy season. Besides, termite attack causes serious damage to root bark in crops grown on drier lands. These insects can be controlled by applying Endosulphan 30 EC spray 0.03% in water in water solution twice at 15-day interval as soon as the termites attack the plants. [12]

Harvesting:
Optimal time: The tree begins flowering and fruiting after three years, with viable seeds even in the first fruiting. Fruits take about three to five months to mature. Root bark is harvested by uprooting the plants after six to eight years, typically from October to December. [12]
Post-harvest handling and storage: A pit is dug around the tree and filled with water to facilitate uprooting. After up-rooting, the roots are thoroughly cleaned. Thereafter, the bark is peeled off and the root is cut into small pieces, which are shade-dried to reduce their moisture level to less than 12%. The dried material is stored in moisture-proof bags. [12]

Sustainability:
Ensuring the sustainable management of Oroxylum indicum is crucial for its long-term viability. The plant faces threats from habitat loss, deforestation, and over-exploitation in some areas, although it is not globally endangered. Sustainable practices can help preserve this species, including:
• Promoting Cultivation: Encouraging the growth of Oroxylum indicum in agro-forestry systems can reduce pressure on wild populations.
• Protected Areas: Establishing protected areas where the tree naturally occurs can safeguard its habitat and promote biodiversity.
• Regulating Harvest: Implementing regulations to control the harvesting of Oroxylum indicum can prevent over-exploitation and ensure the plant’s avail-ability for future generations.
• Research and Awareness: Conducting research on propagation methods, eco-logical requirements, and potential cultivation regions can support sustainable practices. Additionally, awareness programs can educate local communities about the importance of conserving Oroxylum indicum.
Sustainable management of Oroxylum indicum not only conserves biodiversity but also provides economic opportunities for local communities through the responsible use of this valuable plant. [4]

Habitat preservation: The Oroxylum indicum may face threats such as habitat loss due to deforestation, land conversion for agriculture, and urbanization. Therefore, it required serious efforts to conserve this important plant species. Oroxylum indicum is a significant plant species with various ecological, cultural, and medicinal importance. Therefore, this review majorly explains medicinal properties and conservation strategies of Oroxylum indicum. [4]

N/A

N/A

Nutrient	/100g	Remark
Proteins	N/A	N/A
Carbohydrates	N/A	N/A
Fats	N/A	N/A
Vitamins	N/A	N/A
Minerals	N/A	N/A
Fibers	N/A	N/A

[1] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 19 September 2024 by endless_wonderer. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/242688344. [Accessed: 25 September 2024].
[2] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 23 September 2024 by Sivabirds. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/243536400. [Accessed: 25 September 2024].
[3] iNaturalist [Online]. Uploaded on 17 February 202 by dineshvalke. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148955058. [Accessed: 17 September 2024]

[4] S. Kuma, N. Srivastava, M. Nahar, V. Kumar, A. Patil, et al., A Comprehensive Review Study on Ecological Landscape of Oroxylum indicum, African Journal Of Biological Sci-ences, vol. 6, pp. 143-158, July 2024
[5] Plants of the world Online [Online]. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available:https://powo.scence.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:110175-1. [Accessed: 25 September 2024]
[6] IUCN. (2024, September 25). IUCN red list. Retrieved from IUCN red list web site: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/117894673/117894699
[7] iNaturalist [Online]. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/347930-Oroxylum-indicum. [Accessed: 25 September 2024]
[8] PURDUE [Online]. Available: https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/famine-foods/famine_food/oroxylum-indicum/. [Accessed: 25 September 2024]
[9] B. Dinda, I. SilSarma, M. Dinda, P. Rudrapaul., Oroxylum in-dicum (L.) Kurz, an important Asian traditional medicine: From traditional uses to scientific data for its commercial ex-ploitation, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 161, pp. 255-278, December 2014
[10] NAFRI, NUoL & SNV, A Manual of 100 Commercial and Traditional Products, The National Agriculture and Forestry Re-search Institute. Vientiane, Lao PDR, 2007.
[11] K. Rathod, Ram Mayur L, R. Jaliya, R. Dhaka, S. Jha & B. S. Desai., Oroxylum indicum: Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and therapeutic uses, The Pharma Innovation Journal, vol. 11, pp. 200-203, December 2021.
[12] ECHARAK [Online]. Available: https://echarak.in/echarak/templates/Operculina%20turpethum%20%20%28Linn.%29%20Silva-Manso..pdf. [Accessed: 25 September 2024]