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. 