There has been considerable confusion, especially in the literature[], between Stereospermum chelonoides (L.f.) DC. (often also known as Stereospermum suaveolens (Roxb.) DC); and Stereospermum tetragonum DC. (also known as Stereospermum colais (Buch.-Ham. ex Dillwyn) Mabb. & Stereospermum personatum (Hassk.) Chatterjee). This confusion continues to the present day, even to the extent of the same photograph being used to illustrate the two different species[].
It would seem that when the synonym Stereospermum suaveolens is used it refers to Stereospermum chelonoides, but when Stereospermum chelonoides is used, especially in older literature, it often refers to Stereospermum tetragonum.
The two species are very similar, the main differences include the flowers - those of Stereospermum chelonoides are said to be hairy, dark purple outside, streaked with yellow inside whilst those of Stereospermum tetragonum are glabrous, yellowish on the outside and cream inside[].
We have tried to apply the various reports of usage of these plants into the correct records, though cannot be certain this has been done accurately. However, some of the literature on their medicinal applications say that they can be used interchangeably[].

Common Name: Fragrant Padri-Tree

General Information

Stereospermum chelonoides is a large, deciduous tree growing 15 - 30 metres or more tall[, ]. The bole is tolerably erect, though not straight, it can be free of branches for up to 15 metres and up to 80cm in diameter[, , ].
An important timber tree within its native range. The plant is also gathered from the wild in large quantities for local use as a food and medicine - being sold for medicinal use in markets[].. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued for its fragrant flowers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia.

Habitat

Forest margins; at elevations up to 700 metres in Nepal[]. Semi-deciduous forests and savannahs of low regions, sometimes reaching elevations of 800 - 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	23.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Stereospermum chelonoides is a plant of the moist subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 32°c, but can tolerate 5 - 47°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 750 - 3,800mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. Succeeds in a wide range of well-drained soils[]. In the wild it tends to become gregarious on clayey ground, but is by no means confined to such soil and is often found in abundance on sandy and gravelly soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[].
Young plants are capable of struggling well against weeds, but their development is much impeded thereby[].
The seedlings are drought-resistant and are fairly tolerant of short-lived frosts ; in frosty localities they are occasionally killed back, but have good power of recovery[].
Trees can survive forest fires[]. It is one of the commonest trees to be seen in the savannah lands of India, apparently able to shoot up yearly in spite of fire, and to grow on into a tree if only a short period of immunity from fire can be obtained[].
The tree sometimes suckers very freely[].
The flowers are exquisitely fragrant[].
The tree regenerates very freely from seed in the wild[].

Edible Uses

The following reports on edibility are more likely to correctly refer to Stereospermum tetragonum rather than this species, though could equally apply to both species[]. See notes above on taxonomy.

Tender young fruit - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Flowers - cooked and used as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

The juice of the bark is used to treat indigestion[].
The bark is one of the ingredients of 'Dasamula' (‘ten barks’), a polyherbal medication commonly used in Ayurveda[]

The root and bark are used as a favourite tonic native medicine[].

A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of intermittent and puerperal fevers, inflammatory affections of the chest[].

The flowers are taken in the form of a confection as an aphrodisiac. The flowers pounded with honey are said to stop troublesome hiccough[].

Extracts of the plant contain lapachol[]. Lapachol has exhibited cytotoxic activity[].
The leaves contain the flavone 'stereolensin'[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Bees are strongly attracted to the fragrant flowers[].
A useful tree for reclothing bare hill-sides, as may be seen in the Siwalik hills, and for restocking grassy blanks subject to frost. The winged seeds usually hang on the tree until just before the rainy season, then falling and able to travel some distance in the breeze before and germinating with the first rains. The seedlings usually compete well if growing in grassy areas[, ].

Other Uses

The ashes of the bark are used in preparing an alkaline ley and caustic pastes[].

The grey wood is hard, elastic, moderately durable, easy to work, takes a good polish, and finishes to a smooth surface[, ]. It is not attacked by insects but has low resistance to the weather[]. Usually there is no heartwood[], though sometimes a small amount is formed that is yellowish brown and handsomely mottled[]. The wood is moderately valuable, and can be used for making furniture, construction, tea boxes, canoes etc[, , ].
An excellent fuel, the wood also makes a good charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - Usually germinates quite quickly, though only a small percentage of the seeds are viable. Seeds generally retain viability for less than 12 months[].
Cuttings
Air layering
Suckers

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