# Oroxylum indicum

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{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Oroxylum indicum 01.jpg
| image_caption = Leaves and fruit, at [Muzhakkunnu](/source/Muzhakkunnu) in Kerala, India
| display_parents = 2
| genus = Oroxylum
| parent_authority = [Vent.](/source/%C3%89tienne_Pierre_Ventenat)
| species = indicum
| authority = ([L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)) [Benth.](/source/George_Bentham) ex [Kurz](/source/Wilhelm_Sulpiz_Kurz)
| synonyms= {{collapsible list|
* ''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 name="WFO">{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000779181 |title=''Oroxylum indicum'' (L.) Benth. |date=2024 |website=The World Flora Online |publisher= World Flora Consortium |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
|}}

'''''Oroxylum indicum''''' is a species of [flowering plant](/source/flowering_plant), in the [monotypic](/source/monotypic) genus '''''Oroxylum''''' in the family [Bignoniaceae](/source/Bignoniaceae).<ref name="WFO"/><ref name="FM">{{cite journal |last1=van Steenis |first1=C.G.G.J.  |title=Bignoniaceae |date=1974 |url=https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/532682/ |journal=Flora Malesiana |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages= 114–186 |via=Naturalis Institutional Repository}}</ref>{{rp|128}} It is commonly called '''Indian trumpet tree''',<ref name="ijps"/> '''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> '''scythe tree''',<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/species/a---l/b/bignoniaceae/oroxylum/oroxylum-indicum efloraofindia - Oroxylum indicum]</ref> '''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> or '''midnight horror'''.<ref>Corner, Wayside trees, loc.cit.</ref> It can reach a height of {{convert|18|m|ft}}. Various segments of the tree are used in [traditional medicine](/source/traditional_medicine).<ref name=ijps/><ref>[https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/16688 India Biodiversity Portal – ''Oroxylum indicum'' (L.) Kurz]</ref>

== Taxonomy ==
Genetic analysis suggests the closest relative of ''Oroxylum'' is the genus ''[Millingtonia](/source/Millingtonia)''; this pair of genera are then probably next most closely related to a [clade](/source/clade) containing ''[Catalpa](/source/Catalpa)'' and ''[Chilopsis](/source/Chilopsis)''.<ref name="p246">{{cite journal | last=Olmstead | first=Richard G. | last2=Zjhra | first2=Michelle L. | last3=Lohmann | first3=Lúcia G. | last4=Grose | first4=Susan O. | last5=Eckert | first5=Andrew J. | title=A molecular phylogeny and classification of Bignoniaceae | journal=American Journal of Botany | volume=96 | issue=9 | date=2009 | issn=0002-9122 | doi=10.3732/ajb.0900004 | pages=1731–1743 | url=https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3732/ajb.0900004 | access-date=2025-06-23}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Its genus name ''Oroxylum'' comes from [Greek](/source/Greek_language) words {{lang|el|ὄρος}} ''oros'' 'mountain' and {{lang|el|ξύλον}} ''xylon'' 'wood', and its epithet means "from India".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Swaminathan |first1=M.S. |last2=Kochhar |first2=S.L. |year=2019 |title=Major Flowering Trees of Tropical Gardens |location= Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=287 |isbn=9781108640633}}</ref>

== Description ==
The tree grows up to {{cvt|27|m}} tall with a trunk diameter of {{cvt|10|-|40|cm}} with grey bark. A mature tree has few branches<ref name="FM"/>{{rp|129}} growing large [pinnate](/source/pinnate) leaves, which are the largest of all [dicot](/source/dicot) tree leaves. The blade, or [lamina](/source/Lamina_(leaf)) can be as much as {{cvt|2.2|m}} long by {{cvt|2.2|m}} wide.<ref name="WToM"/> Each leaf stalk, or [petiole](/source/Petiole_(botany)), is up to {{cvt|2|m|ft}} long comprising four [pinnate](/source/pinnate) branches,<ref name="WToM">{{cite book | last= Corner |first=E. J. H. |author-link=E. J. H. Corner |date= 1952  | title= Wayside Trees of Malaya | location= Singapore | publisher= Govt. Printing Office | volume= 1 | page= 166 }}</ref> each branch is approximately {{cvt|1|m|ft}} in length and comparably wide,<ref name=bones/><ref name="DE">{{cite news |last=Phillipps |first=Anthea| date=22 April 2012 |url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/read.cfm?NewsID=881 |title=The Midnight Horror Tree |newspaper=[Daily Express](/source/Daily_Express_(Malaysia)) |access-date= 5 September 2012}}</ref> borne on [petiole](/source/petiole_(botany))s or stalks. All parts of the leaflet stalk grow at once, with dead stalks falling off the tree and collecting near the base of the trunk, looking like a pile of broken limb bones.<ref name="WToM"/><ref name="DE"/>

The flowers grow from long pedicels at the end of 2-4 cm long [raceme](/source/raceme)s, their brown or dirty-violet calyxes are leathery. They have a sharp smell and bloom at night to attract [pollination by bats](/source/Chiropterophily).<ref name=bones/><ref name="FM"/>{{rp|129}} They form enormous seed pods; these are up to {{cvt|1.5|m|ft}} long that hang down from bare branches, resembling [sword](/source/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 fruit curve downward and resemble the wings of a large bird or dangling sickles or swords in the night, giving the name "tree of [Damocles](/source/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>

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Oroxylum indicum W2 IMG 3171.jpg|Fruit
|Oroxylum indicum250.jpg|Large ''Oroxylum'' pods sold at a market in [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok), Thailand
}}

==Distribution==
''Oroxylum indicum'' is native to the [Indian subcontinent](/source/Indian_subcontinent), the [Himalayan foothills](/source/Himalayas) with a part extending to [Bhutan](/source/Bhutan) and southern China, [Indochina](/source/Indochina) and the [Malesia](/source/Malesia) regions.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} In [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam), the tree is called ''núc nác'' (sometimes ''sò đo''), and specimens can be found in [Cat Tien National Park](/source/Cat_Tien_National_Park).

It is visible in the forest biome of [Manas National Park](/source/Manas_National_Park) in Assam, India. It is found, raised and planted in large number in the forest areas of the [Banswara](/source/Banswara_district) district in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is reported in the list of [rare, endangered and threatened plants of Kerala](/source/Rare%2C_Endangered_and_Threatened_(RET)_plants_of_Kerala) (South India). It is also found in [Sri Lanka](/source/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 ''[Pseudonocardia oroxyli](/source/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](/source/Septobasidium_bogoriense)'' is a [fungal](/source/fungus) species responsible for [velvet blight](/source/velvet_blight) in ''O. indicum''.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

==Phytochemistry==
Various segments of ''O. indicum'', including leaves, root bark, [heartwood](/source/duramen), and seeds, contain diverse [phytochemical](/source/phytochemical)s, such as [prunetin](/source/prunetin), [sitosterol](/source/sitosterol), [oroxindin](/source/oroxindin), [oroxylin-A](/source/oroxylin-A), [biochanin-A](/source/biochanin-A), [ellagic acid](/source/ellagic_acid), [tetuin](/source/tetuin), [anthraquinone](/source/anthraquinone), and [emodin](/source/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|url-access=subscription}}</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](/source/ornamental_plant) for its strange appearance. Materials used include the wood, [tannin](/source/tannin)s and dyestuffs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Neill |first1=Alexander |display-authors=etal |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](/source/Kirati_people), [Sunuwar](/source/Sunwar_people), [Rai](/source/Rai_people), [Limbu](/source/Limbu_people), [Yakha](/source/Yakkha_people), [Tamang](/source/Tamang_people) in Nepal, the [Thai](/source/Thai_People) in Thailand and the [Lao](/source/Lao_People) in Laos.

In the Himalayas, people hang [sculptures](/source/Mobile_(sculpture)) or [garland](/source/garland)s made from ''O. indicum'' (Skr. shyonaka) seeds from the roof of their homes in belief they provide protection.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Storrs |first1=A. |last2=Storrs |first2=J. |year=1990 |title=Trees and Shrubs of Nepal and the Himalayas |publisher=Pilgrims Books House |page=200 |isbn=9747315432 }}</ref>

===Culinary Use===
[[File:Pickled Oroxylum indicum flower buds.jpg|thumb|Pickled [caper](/source/caper)-like flower buds of the scythe tree]]
It is a [plant with edible leaves](/source/List_of_plants_with_edible_leaves), flower buds, pods and stems.<ref name="FM"/>{{rp|130}} The large young pods, known as ''Lin mai'' or ''Lin fa'' in [Loei](/source/Loei), are eaten especially in [Thailand](/source/Thailand) and [Laos](/source/Laos). They are first grilled over charcoal fire and then the inner tender seeds are usually scraped and eaten along with [lap](/source/larb).<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](/source/Chakma_language).

The plant is used as food by the [Karen people](/source/Karen_people). The flower buds are boiled and pickled. The young pods are cut open raw and the tender seeds inside 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 medicine===
''Oroxylum indicum'' seeds are used in [traditional](/source/traditional_medicine) Indian [Ayurvedic](/source/Ayurveda) 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 art===
[Kelantanese](/source/Kelantanese_Malays) and [Javanese](/source/Javanese_people) peoples forge a type of [keris](/source/keris) in the shape of the plant's seed pod called the ''keris buah beko''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Che Husna Azhari<!-- xct nm --> |year=2011 |title=Artifak Sains Dan Teknologi Alam Melayu |location=Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia |publisher=Institute of the Malay World & Civilization, National University of Malaysia |pages=24–25 |isbn=9789832457336 }}</ref>

== In mythology ==
Because the pods are shaped like swords, people in West [Java](/source/Java) believe planting ''Oroxylum'' trees can protect their homes from thieves.<ref name="FM"/>{{rp|130}}

The [Onge](/source/Onge_language) 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](/source/Economic_Botany) |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=112 |doi=10.1007/BF02859311 |jstor=4254461 |s2cid=39096375 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> According to an [Onge](/source/Onge) myth, the first of the Onge people, also named Onge, was created by ''Eyuge'' ([monitor lizard](/source/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](/source/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.JPG|''Oroxylum indicum'' near [Panchkhal](/source/Panchkhal), [Nepal](/source/Nepal)
</gallery>

==See also==
*[List of Thai ingredients](/source/List_of_Thai_ingredients)

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

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

Category:Bignoniaceae
Category:Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine
Category:Decorative fruits and seeds
Category:Flora of tropical Asia
Category:Plants described in 1753
Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Category:Lamiales of Asia
Category:Monotypic Lamiales genera

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Oroxylum indicum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroxylum_indicum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroxylum_indicum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.