Tipuana tipu, also known as tipa is a South American tree. It is the only member of the genus Tipuana. Growing up to 30 metres (98 ft) in height and 20 metres (66 ft) wide, Tipuana tipu is well known for its use as a shade tree. The leaves of the tree are pinnately compound, 10 inches (25 cm) long; the pinnules typically are 1 to 3 inches (2 to 7 cm) long, and are variably paripinnate or imparipinnate on the same tree. The flowers are bright yellow in color and bloom only briefly in the late summer. The fruit is a hard, pod with the seed at one end, resembling a samara (the fruit of the Ash genus, Fraxinus)