Tecoma stans is an erect shrub commonly found in India. The shrub has some common names in different native Indian languages. It is known as Koranekalar in Kannada; Nagasam-Bagam, Sonnapatti, Sornapatti in Tamil and the Telugu people call it Pachagotla. The small tree has a height of up to 4 m and its leaves are opposite, imparipinnate. The length of the leaves is up to 20 cm and they usually have 5 or 7 leaflets. The leaflets are lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, and are long-acuminate at apex. The base is acute or acuminate and the margins sharply serrate.
The flowers of Tecoma stans are borne in terminal panicles. The calyx of the plant is green, having a length of 5 mm and is 5-toothed. The yellow corolla has a length of 4-4.5 cm and the tube is inflated upward. The fruits or the capsules of the plant are linear, having a length of 12-20 cm and width of 7-8 mm. The acuminate, compressed fruits contain numerous seeds and each of the seeds comes with two thin wings. The plant usually flowers and fruits throughout the year. Though the plant is a native to tropical South America, it is widely planted as a hedge plant in gardens throughout India. The plant is often naturalized on open, degraded sites, as well.
There are some certain medicinal properties and usages of Tecoma stans. The root of the plant is reported to be a powerful diuretic, vermifuge and tonic. A grinding of the root and lemon juice is reportedly used as an external application and also taken internally in small quantities as a remedy for snake and rat bites. The grinding is taken as a remedy for scorpion sting, as well.
