The Yellow Snake Tree

Trumpet flower tree or Padal (Stereospermum Tetragonum/पाडळ) is a moderate sized deciduous tree, often buttressed. Flowers are fragrant, yellow with reddish-purple veins and velvety at the mouth, trumpet shaped in panicles. Flowering occurs during May to July. The fruit is long, curved and brown in colour. This, probably, is the source of its common name, Yellow Snake tree.

Padal is often grown as an ornamental tree, valued for its fragrant flowers. It grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade. The tree succeeds in a wide range of well-drained soils. The tree can survive forest fires. It is one of the commonest trees to be seen in the savannah lands of India, apparently able to shoot up yearly in spite of fire, and to grow on into a tree if only a short period of immunity from fire can be obtained. 

The tree can be propagated easily from seeds, cuttings and root-suckers. Its flowers and tender young fruits are known to be edible and eaten as a cooked vegetable. The Padal provides an excellent fuel; the wood also makes a good charcoal.

The tree is associated with the famous Padaleeshwarar temple at Tiruppathiripuliyur (pathiri is tamil name of Padal), Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Goddess Parvathi reached Tiruppathiripuliyur after worship of 1008 Shiva sthalams. She worshipped the Lord Padaleeshwarar installed under a Padal tree. After years of penance, Lord Shiva appeared and he united with the Goddess under the sacred Padal tree, which is now the sthala vruksha (holy tree) of the temple. The tree is associated with the Ekapatala, sister of Goddess Parvathi who took only one Patala leaf for food. The tree is also sacred to the Jains, as the 12th Tirthankara - Bhagwan Vaspujay Ji attained enlightenment under this tree. 

The Padal root is one of the ten ingredients in reputed Dashamula, a popular Ayurvedic formulation for fatigue. Padal is reported to be astringent, cardiotonic, cooling, diuretic and tonic. It relieves the three doshas, overcomes anorexia, difficulty in breathing, oedema, piles, vomiting, hiccough and thirst. Parts from the tree are used as anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, antiemetic and febrifuge; also in perfumes and medicines. The flower is used for removing intestinal worms and is also used to treat mental disorders, jaundice and venereal diseases. 

The sacred & hardy tree easily performs well in the urban settlements and grows moderately fast. Its beautiful fragrant flowers add grace to the city gardens.