Dolichandrone spathacea, popularly known as tui or mangrove trumpet tree is a species of plant in the Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-creeper family). The plant is native to Southeast Asia, South India, and Sri Lanka to New Caledonia. Apart from mangrove trumpet tree it is also known as Tuiand Singapore mangrove. The scientific name derives from the Greek words dolichos meaning long, and andron meaning male and referring to the long stamens of the flowers, and spathe meaning broad leaf blade. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its fragrant, showy flowers. Although Dolichandrone spathacea is widespread, it is uncommon in many parts of its range. It is threatened by the loss of mangrove habitat throughout its range, primarily due to extraction and coastal development.

Mangrove trumpet Tree Facts

Mangrove trumpet tree Quick Facts
Name:	Mangrove trumpet tree
Scientific Name:	Dolichandrone spathacea
Origin	Southeast Asia, South India, and Sri Lanka to New Caledonia
Colors	Green at first, turning brown as they mature
Shapes	Long, flattened, curling bean-like pods that are 25-60 cm long, 2 to 2.5 centimeters thick and contain many see
Health benefits	Support oral thrush, bronchitis, gastrointestinal diseases, asthma, vomiting, inflammation, diarrhea, chlorosis, cholera, diuresis and hematemesis

Name	Mangrove trumpet tree
Scientific Name	Dolichandrone spathacea
Native	Southeast Asia, South India, and Sri Lanka to New Caledonia
Common Names	Mangrove trumpet tree, Singapore mangrove, Tui
Name in Other Languages	Bangla: Gaṛaśiṅgā (গড়শিঙ্গা) English: Mangrove trumpet tree, Singapore mangrove French: Bignone de Malaysie Hungarian: Lóhúsfa Kannada: Arkuvoddi Malay: Kaju, Kaju pelok, Kaju pelumping, Poko kulo Malayalam: Neerpongilium, neerpongiliyam, nirpongilium Marathi: Samudrashingi Myanmar: Tha khut ma, Hnin gut, Tha khut Philippines: Pata, tangas, tanghas, tivi, tiwi, tue, tui, tuwi Russian: Bignoniia dlinneyshaia (Бигнония длиннейшая) Sinhalese: Diya danga (දිය දග) Sri Lankan: Diyadanga Tagalog: Tiwi, Tua, Tui Tamil: Kaliyacca, Mankulanchi, Pannir,Vilpadri, attukkompoti, attukkompotiyai, kanbillai, kanpilaicceti Thai: Khaena (แคนา), Khaepa (แค ป่า), Khaena, Khæ thale (แคทะเล) Vietnamese: Quao, Quao nước Visayan: Tanghas, Tanhas
Plant Growth Habit	Attractive, evergreen tree
Growing Climates	Undisturbed lowland forest, secondary formations, mangroves, along tidal streams, along rivers, in swamps, occasionally also in the sandy soils of keranga forest
Soil	Usually found on sandy to muddy soils in the wild, rarely on limestone, but in cultivation it tolerates a wide range of soils. Although its natural habitat is swamps, it can adapt to drier sites. Plants are tolerant of salt-laden winds. It can also tolerate waterlogged soil that is freshwater or brackish
Plant Size	Up to 20 meters tall with a bole up to 40 cm in diameter
Trunk	Cylindrical, short and often crooked
Bark	Grey to dark brown, shallowly ridged and fissured, slightly scaly
Leaf	Leaves are compound, opposite to sub-opposite, usually imparinnate, 30 to 40 centimeters long with 9–11 leaflets and petiole up to 8 cm long, lenticels prominent, petioles and rachis furrowed on upper surface. Leaflets are opposite, lanceolate to ovate lanceolate, membraneous, terminal leaflet 10–17 cm long and 4–5 cm wide
Flower	Flowers are borne on short, terminal, few-flowered racemes in clusters of 2-10 flowers. The flowers in the cluster bloom one at a time and are very fragrant. Calyx is 4 to 5 centimeters long, spathe like, and split down one side to the base. Corolla is fragrant, white, with a rather slender, cylindrical tube 15-20 centimeters long with ruffled edges, becoming funnel-shaped or bell-shaped above, 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter
Fruit Shape & Size	Long, flattened, curling bean-like pods that are 25-60 cm long, 2 to 2.5 centimeters thick and contain many seeds
Fruit Color	Green at first, turning brown as they mature
Seed	Pale white to dark grey, small about 12–19 mm long and 6–9 mm wide, rectangular to square, with a corky wing
Plant Parts Used	Bark, leaves, seeds
Propagation	By seed
Culinary Uses	Young flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Young fruits are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Plant Description

Mangrove trumpet tree is an attractive, evergreen tree that normally grows up to 20 meters tall with a bole up to 40 cm in diameter. Old trees have massive trunks that are fluted at the base. Trunk is cylindrical, short and often crooked. Bark is grey to dark brown, shallowly ridged and fissured, slightly scaly. The plant is found growing in undisturbed lowland forest, secondary formations, mangroves, along tidal streams, along rivers, in swamps, occasionally also in the sandy soils of keranga forest. It is usually found on sandy to muddy soils in the wild, rarely on limestone, but in cultivation it tolerates a wide range of soils. Although its natural habitat is swamps, it can adapt to drier sites. Plants are tolerant of salt-laden winds. It can also tolerate waterlogged soil that is freshwater or brackish.

Leaves

Leaves are compound, opposite to sub-opposite, usually imparinnate, 30 to 40 centimeters long with 9–11 leaflets and petiole up to 8 cm long, lenticels prominent, petioles and rachis furrowed on upper surface. Leaflets are opposite, lanceolate to ovate lanceolate, membraneous, terminal leaflet 10–17 cm long and 4–5 cm wide, laterals are smaller, base asymmetrical, apex acuminate, midrib depressed on adaxial surface, peltate scales present on both surfaces when young, 0–5 extra-floral nectaries on abaxial surfaces, occasional on adaxial, domatia present as hair tufts. Young leaves are slightly pinkish and somewhat sticky. At times the tree may be nearly leafless.

Flower

The plant produces bisexual flowers that develop on flowering shoots. Flowers are borne on short, terminal, few-flowered racemes in clusters of 2-10 flowers. The flowers in the cluster bloom one at a time and are very fragrant. Calyx is 4 to 5 centimeters long, spathe like, and split down one side to the base. Corolla is fragrant, white, with a rather slender, cylindrical tube 15-20 centimeters long with ruffled edges, becoming funnel-shaped or bell-shaped above, 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter. The flower is composed of a long thin tube that expands near the opening and spreads abruptly into 5 rounded lobes with frilly edges.

The flowers in the cluster bloom one at a time and according to Corners “very fragrant” while Tomlinson describes it as “a pervasive scent”. According to Hsuan Keng, the flower opens in the early morning and closes at noon, but according to Corners, it blooms at dusk and the flower drops off at sunrise or earlier, while Tomlinson says they bloom in the early evening and the flower usually lasts for only one day. According to Tomlinson, nectar accumulates copiously at the base of the trumpet tube. Suggestions for pollinators include very long-tongued moths (Corners); long-tongued ‘nocturnal animals’ probably hawk moths (Tomlinson). Apparently, no pollinators have been observed so far. Self-pollination also occurs.

Fruit

Fertile flowers are followed by long, flattened, curling bean-like pods that are 25-60 cm long, 2 to 2.5 centimeters thick and contain many seeds. The pods are green at first, turning brown as they mature. The seeds resemble small rectangular wheat biscuits; they are pale white to dark grey, small about 12–19 mm long and 6–9 mm wide, rectangular to square, with a corky wing. They float readily and are probably dispersed by water and not wind.

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Mangrove trumpet tree Image Gallery