Tabebuia
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| Tabebuia | ||||||||||||
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| Missing image Tabebuia_impetiginosa.jpg Tabebuia impetiginosa flowers | ||||||||||||
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About 100 species; see text |
Tabebuia is a Neotropical genus of about 100 species of large shrubs and trees in the tribe Tecomeae of the family Bignoniaceae. The species range from northern Mexico and the Antilles south to northern Argentina. Most species are on the islands of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Cuba.
Species in this genus are important as timber trees and as ornamentals because of their showy flowers. Many species are dry-season deciduous and flower on leafless stems at the end of the dry season, making the floral display more conspicuous. The bark of several species is used medicinally. The wood is used for furniture, decking, and other outdoor uses. Remarkably, it has a fire rating of A1 (the best possible, the same as concrete), and is denser than water (it sinks). It is increasingly popular as a decking material due to its insect resistance and durability.
- Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) Nichols. (Aragüaney) from northern South America, is the national tree of Venezuela. The flowers are yellow.
- Tabebuia donnell-smithii Rose (Prima vera or Gold tree), a native of Mexico and Central Americas, is considered one of the most colorful of all trees. The leaves are deciduous. Masses of golden-yellow flowers cover the crown after the leaves are shed.
- Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex D.C.) Standl. (Pink Ipê; syn. T. avellandedae, T. ipe).
- Tabebuia rosea (A.P. de Candolle) Britton (Pink Poui, Pink tecoma or Apama or Apamate; syn. T. pentaphylla (L.) Hemsley, widely but incorrectly applied to this species) is a popular street tree in tropical cities because of its multi-annular masses of light pink flowers and modest size. The roots are not especially aggressive towards roads and sidewalks.
- Tabebuia serratifolia (Yellow Poui, Ipê, Pau d'arco, Ipê roxo, or Lapacho) is a commercially farmed hardwood notable for its extreme hardness and resistance to fire and pests. Its inner bark is used as a treatment for fungal infections.