Tecoma stans.
Family Bignoniaceae.
There are 16 accepted species of Tecoma.
Tecomaria is now a synonym – mostly for Tecoma.
Synonyms for Tecoma stans include Gelsemium stans, Bignonia stans and Stenolobium stans.
A widely cultivated plant commonly known as Yellow Bells or Yellow Trumpet flower.
It is naturalised in coastal areas of Queensland where it is a weed.
It is a much-branched shrub up to 2 or 3 m or a small tree up to 5 m or more.
The furrowed bark is a grey-brown and young stems age from green to red-brown.
The opposite, pinnate leaves are up to 25 cm long with stalks to 9 cm long.
There are 2 to 3 (1 to 6) pairs of leaflets plus a terminal one.
Up to about 10 cm long by 3 cm wide, they are narrowly ovate with a pointed tip.
The edges are toothed and there may be a few hairs underneath.
Inflorescences, up to 15 cm long, are terminal or axillary near the branch ends.
The green calyx, with 5 pointed lobes, has a few nectaries.
The tubular flowers are on short, twisted stalks.
The tubular part is up to 5 cm long and the 5 rounded lobes up to 3 cm long.
They are bright yellow with hairs and ridges in the throat.
There may also be faint reddish lines in the throat.
There are 2 unequal pairs of stamens and a small staminode.
The fruit are flattened, green then brown capsules 20 to 30 cm long and 2 cm wide.
The flat, oblong seeds are about 8 mm by 4 mm with 2 transparent wings.
Seed and wings are about 2 cm wide.
Tecoma alata or Orange Bells, has similar leaves and fruit.
The tubular flowers are a reddish-orange.
J.F.
