Bignoniaceae

Handroanthus

Handroanthus

Genus of tropical trees in the family Bignoniaceae, segregated from the former genus Tabebuia, distributed mainly in Central and South America. It comprises the Brazilian and South American "ipês" or "trumpet trees", famous for their massive and spectacular flowering: in the dry season, before the leaves emerge, the trees are completely covered in tubular yellow, pink, lilac, or white flowers in large panicles. The yellow ipê (H. chrysotrichus) is the national tree of Brazil. Ipê wood is one of the hardest and most durable in the world.