Vangam

Vangam, arlu in Hindi and shyonaka in Sanskrit, is the Indian trumpet tree, a small tree with enormous leaves, foul-smelling purple flowers that open at night for bats, and sword-shaped pods up to a metre long. Fallen leaf stalks pile up under the tree like broken bones, which is behind names such as broken bones tree. Its root bark is one of the ten roots of the Ayurvedic dashamula.

Botanical name

Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth. ex Kurz

Family

Bignoniaceae

Tamil

Vangam

Hindi

Arlu

Sanskrit

Śyonāka

Parts used

Bark in lists, Seeds

Habit

Night-flowering trumpet tree with huge sword-like pods

Last updated

2026-10-27

How to recognise Vangam

It is a small, sparsely branched deciduous tree, often under twelve metres.

The leaves are huge, two or three times pinnate, often over a metre long, with many oval leaflets.

Large, fleshy, red-purple flowers open at night on tall stalks above the leaves and smell unpleasant.

The pods are flat and sword-like, up to a metre long, hanging from the branches.

The seeds are thin, round and surrounded by wide, papery, white wings.

Traditional use of Vangam

Ayurveda

Shyonaka root bark is one of the ten roots of dashamula, used in decoctions and oils.

Ayurvedic practice

Chinese medicine

The papery seeds, called mu hu die or wooden butterfly, are used in Chinese herbal practice for throat complaints.

Chinese herbal practice

Kitchen

In north-east India and Thailand the young pods and flowers are cooked as a bitter vegetable.

North-east Indian and Thai food practice

Modern notes on Vangam

The bark and seeds contain flavonoids such as oroxylin A, chrysin and baicalein, studied in laboratories.

Clinical evidence in people is limited.

Root harvesting for dashamula has reduced wild trees in some regions.

Vangam safety

Use the root bark only in formulas prepared by a trained practitioner, and avoid it in pregnancy.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows in forest clearings from India to southern China and South-east Asia.

Bats pollinate the night flowers, attracted by their strong smell.

Its winged seeds float far on the wind.

Related plants

Also in Bignoniaceae

Questions about Vangam

Why is Vangam called broken bones tree?

Fallen leaf stalks look like piles of bones.

Who pollinates Vangam?

Bats, at night.

What is shyonaka?

Its Sanskrit name, used in dashamula.

How long are the pods of Vangam?

Up to about a metre.

Are any parts eaten?

Young pods and flowers, cooked, in some regions.

Sources

• Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth. ex Kurz — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q3245941 (Oroxylum indicum)

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.