Handroanthus umbellatus

Description

The yellow lapacho (Handroanthus umbellatus), is a species of arboreal bignonia of the genus Handroanthus. It is an endemic taxon of South America. Its flowers are yellow. This species inhabits the north and east of South America. It was herborizada in Venezuela (Zulia) and Brazil, in the states of: Roraima, Amazonas, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina And Rio Grande do Sul. It lives in savannas and edges of subtropical and tropical riparian forests at altitudes between sea level and 800 meters above sea level. It is used as an urban tree. It is a tree up to 25 m tall and 60 cm in diameter (generally smaller) with glabrous leaves. Blooms almost completely devoid of leaves. Very large inflorescences. The flowers are melliferous, 8 cm long and 9 cm wide between the lobes, bright yellow with a greenish calyx (except for the brownish lobes), with the lower lip with reddish nerves that continue down towards the throat. The fruit is a green capsule that, when ripe, dries and turns brown, opens, thus releasing a multitude of winged seeds, which are dispersed by the wind.