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BATS
AND OROXYLUM INDICUM THE BROKEN BONES TREE, THE INDIAN TRUMPET TREE or THE MIDNIGHT HORROR TREE |
Oroxylum indicum is a well-known medicinal tree in Asia. The root skin, tree bark and twigs, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds have all been used to treat a great variety of human ailments for thousands of years. That use continues today, so much so that pharmaceutical overharvesting of the tree is one of the threats to its survival in the wild along with habitat destruction. (1)
Fujita (1991) listed the dawn bat, Eonycteris spelaea as a pollinator of Oroxylum indicum in Western Malaysia and Leschenault's rousette as a pollinator in India.(2)
Neuweiler (2000) describes in detail the relationship between the dawn bat and the flowers of Oroxylum indicum; the position of the flower on the tree, the opening schedule of the flower, the fit of the bat's head with the anatomical design of the flower and the position of the nectar receptacle in relationship to the bat's weight.(3)
Oroxylum indicum grows to a height of about 12 metres (about 40 feet). It has long leaves and long flower-bearing stalks. The seed pods are about a metre long (3+ feet), curved and scimitar-like in appearance.
When the long leaf and flower-bearing stalks dry and fall from the tree, their accumulation beneath the tree resembles a pile of broken bones.
An article on Oroxylum indicum by the National Innovation Foundation says that the scimitar-like pods and bone-like stalks are used by Manipur farmers to dispatch paddy field crabs.(4)
MEDICINE
The medicinal uses of Oroxylum indicum and the components of the tree which encourage these uses are impressively set out in the Introduction to Genetic diversity in Oroxylum indicum by Jayaram and Prasad. (1)
The long use of Oroxylum indicum as a medicine tree is well supported by continuing current research. In August of 2008 a search for "Oroxylum indicum + research" supplied nearly 1000 websites.
The tree's components are being investigated for antigastric, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritis and cytotoxic properties. Those properties could lead to the development of recognized medications that combat ulcers, arthritis and cancer in human beings. The evidence of 2500 years of traditional medicinal use supports that possibility.
FOOD
Fujita cites sources who affirm the use of the tree's bark, roots, flowers, seeds and leaves as food.(2)
Nakahara et al.,writes that in north and northeastern Thailand the flowers and fruit of Oroxylum indicum are eaten along with many other native plants and crops. Oroxylum indicum is also used in traditional medicine. The cancer rate in some Thai cities is lower than some cities in Europe and North America.(5)
ORNAMENTAL
Oroxylum indicum has an unusual appearance. This has created a demand for plants and seeds which can be satisfied at a variety of nurseries.
EMPLOYMENT
There is some income
for people who collect the tree's bark, roots, seeds and flowers for traditional
or Ayurvedic medicine. The State Forest Research Institute, Department of
Environment and Forests in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India, is encouraging
the development of plantations of medicinal plants, including Oroxylum indicum,
which will provide work and also protect wild plants from being over-harvested.(6)
OTHER USES
There seem to be no uses for the wood of the tree other than for matchsticks as cited by Fujita. As is often the case with bat-plants, the bark of the tree and the seed pods are used in tanning hides and making dye. (1)
RELATED BAT-TREES
Other members of the family Bignoniaceae (Catalpa) pollinated by bats are the sausage tree (Kigella africana)of Africa, the tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata)and the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete).
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