Giant Tecoma tree at junction of Jalan USJ4/6c and 6e
Subang Jaya, Selangor (tree around 20 years old)
Well, it's called Tabebuia pentaphylla which is symnonymous with Tabebuia rosea, Tecoma rosea and Tabebuia punctatissima.
The Tabebuia is native to Central and South America and the local people there called it ipê rosa, apamate, matilisguate and maquilishuat. It is the national tree of El Salvador. This elegant tree is commonly known in English as Pink tabebuia, Pink tecoma, Pink poui, Pink trumpet and Rosy trumpet.
In Malaysia, it is popularly known as "Cherry Blossoms or Sakura" tree and "tissue-paper" tree.
It's a beautiful sight to watch because of its profuse flowering and when the flowers float down in a strong breeze, they cover the ground below like a dense soft pale pink (or white) carpet.
Pink tabebuia, Pink tecoma, Pink poui,
Pink trumpet or Rosy trumpet
The genus Tabebuia (pronounced as ta-bee-BEW-ee-uh) comes from the family Bignoniaceae (big-no-nih-AY-see-ee) which include the well-known blue trumpet flower Jacaranda which is represented by the species Jacaranda obtusifolia (Malay: Jambul Merak) in Malaysia
The dainty fern-like foliage and bluish flowers of Jacaranda obtusifolia
Tabebuia has more than 100 species, and in Malaysia, Tabebuia pentaphylla is most common and often planted along roadsides and in gardens, parks and recreation areas. The two colours most often seen are from the pink and white varieties.
White tabebuia flowers
The species name pentaphylla refers to the five leaves in each leaf-stalk, where “penta” means “five” and “phylla” means "leaf" in Latin.
The five leaves on a leaf-stalk (pentaphylla)
with the middle leaf much larger than the restTabebuia requires a distinct dry season in order to burst into bloom. The trees are more suited in the northern, more seasonal parts of Malaysia and many local people there proudly called the pink Tabebuia flowers as the “Cherry Blossoms of Penang” which are very similar to the world famous cherry blossoms of Japan in its short and intense flowering season and pretty soft petals.
Tabebuia and Cherry blossoms - similar in many ways
Another popular local nickname for the Tabebuia tree is “tissue-paper tree” referring to the flowers thin and almost translucent petals when viewed against the sun.
Thin and translucent petals very much like facial tissue-paper
Flowers are large, in various tones of pink to purple, (or white) and appear while the tree has none, or very few, leaves. The flowers are funnel shaped, light pink (or white) with a yellow throat and look like a trumpet.
The White Tabebuia with the distinct yellow throat
Pollination occurs probably by insects such as bees and flies, although the flowers are visited by many birds such as hummingbirds and orioles.
A busy bee visiting the White Tabebuia flowers
The long and slender fruit capsules can measure up to 35 cm (14 in) and appear several weeks after flowering from July to September.
After the drying fruit dehisces, the anemochorous, hyaline-membrane-winged seeds are released.
Seeds germinate easily. The young seedlings grow fast and are easy to maintain.
Long and slender fruit capsule at the end of a branch
A matured fruit pod breaks open to release the winged seeds
Membrane winged seeds for wind-assisted dispersion
Seeds germinate easily. The young seedlings grow fast and are easy to maintain.
Long and slender fruit capsules hang at the end of branches
Like many beautiful ornamental trees, such as the famous rain-tree (Samanea saman or Albizia saman), the Tabebuia tree is generally believed to have been introduced to Malaysia from Central and South America through India by the British administration during the early 18th century. Since then, it has adapted itself to the hot and humid climate of Malaysia.
It is an elegant tree with a tall, straight trunk which can reach heights of more than 30m but because of the uniformly wet climate of Malaysia, its growth is generally restricted to about 15 to 20m. Usually, at the height of about 3-4m from the ground, the trunk opens up into two or three erect branches supporting a wide and well-proportioned crown. As a modest size tree with seasonal profuse flowering and roots which are not especially destructive for roads and sidewalks, the Tabebuia is a popular choice for plantings along roadsides, drains, gardens, parks and recreation areas.
The trunk resembles that of the oak wood and the bark can be gray to brown, in varying darkness and may be vertically fissured.
A White Tabebuia tree along the roadsides
The trunk resembles that of the oak wood and the bark can be gray to brown, in varying darkness and may be vertically fissured.
Resemblance to the oak wood
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