Thespesia Populnea (also known as Indian tulip) tree is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with a grey or light-brown bark, and dense, broad crown growing up to a height of 20 m.

The leaves are thin, bluish green and heart shaped. The tree has bell shaped yellow colored flowers that are produced intermittedly throughout the year in warm climates.

Fruits are rounded capsules which are dense and hard. Children in villages use the fruit as wheels of their toys. It is a multipurpose tree, providing food, medicines and many other commodities for local use. The plant is especially valued for its richly colored dark wood. It is a sacred tree in many parts of the pacific where it is grown near temples and is planted to provide shade to dwellings.