Palakapayyani (Oroxylum Indicum)

Oroxylum indicum, also known as the Indian trumpet flower or midnight horror, is a deciduous tree belonging to the Bignoniaceae family. It is native to Southeast Asia, including India, China, and Malaysia.

The tree can grow up to 20 meters in height and has a wide, spreading crown. Its bark is rough and gray, while the leaves are large, up to 1 meter long, and pinnate, with 5-11 leaflets. The leaflets are ovate to oblong in shape and have serrated margins.

The flowers of Oroxylum indicum are large, trumpet-shaped, and pale purple in color, measuring up to 7.5 cm in length. They bloom in clusters at the end of branches from April to August. The fruit is a flat, woody capsule that measures up to 50 cm in length and contains numerous winged seeds.

Oroxylum indicum has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Its bark, leaves, and fruits are used to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, cough, asthma, and dysentery. The plant contains several active compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and coumarins, which are responsible for its medicinal properties.