Spathodea campanulata is commonly known as the African tulip tree. The plant is widely distributed in Nigeria and other West African countries and is reputedly used for epilepsy and convulsion control, against kidney disease, urethritis, and as antidote against animal poisons. Decoctions of the plant stem are also employed against eczemas, fungal skin disease, herpes, stomach ache, and diarrhea. Its leaf decoction is used in the treatment of pain, inflammation, constipation, and dysentery . The plant is also reported to exhibit antiplasmodial activity and analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions. Its subchronic toxicity study showed that oral administration of 750, 1000, and 3000 mg/kg/day of the ethanol leaf extract of the plant to Sprague-Dawley rats for 90 days caused dose and time-dependent hepatotoxicity marked by elevations in the serum liver enzyme markers (aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase). Its use also improved hemograms in the treated rats while causing no effects on other measured hematological and biochemical parameters. The extract also caused decreased food and water intake, emaciation, muscle weakness, and sluggishness in the extract-treated rats . However, these changes showed complete recovery after 28 days posttreatment (oral toxicity reversibility study) . Among the most beautiful of flowering trees, the African tulip tree comes from tropical Africa, where it reaches heights of 60 feet (18.3 meters) or more; in San Diego, they average 25 to 40 feet (7.6 to 12.3 meters) tall. When in bloom, the tree puts on a spectacular display, aglow with a profusion of stunning, orange-scarlet flowers. A blooming African tulip tree clamors for attention, displaying clusters of showy, five-inch-long (13-centimeter-long) flowers that resemble frilly tulips. The bloom season, which depends on where the tree is planted, may last as long as five months. Fruits are 6- to 12-inch-long (15.2- to 30.5-centimeter-long) cigar-shaped pods that dry and harden. When they fall from the tree, they split into two boat-shaped halves and spill about 500 thin, flat seeds. The filmy wing that surrounds each small seed catches the wind and helps the seed disperse.

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