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(Last Modified On 11/27/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/27/2012)
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Species
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DELONIX REGIA (Bojer) Raf.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Fl. Tellur. 2:92. 1836.
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Synonym
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Poinciana regia Bojer in Hook. Bot. Mag. pI. 2884. 1829.
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Description
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Spreading tree, the branchlets subglabrous, lenticellate, corky in age. Leaves large; petiole usually about 10 cm. long, flattened and somewhat sulcate above, swollen basally; rachis up to 5 dm. long, somewhat nodose and cross-partitioned at insertion of the pinnae, tomentulose or puberulent; stipules sagittate-bifurcate (the lobes frequently dissected), caducous; pinnae up to about 20 pairs, spreading, the rachis about 12 cm. long, tomentulose; ultimate leaflets up to 40 pairs, oblong, usually nearly 1 cm. long and 3-4 mm. wide, inequilateral basally, rounded or obtuse apically, usually tomentulose or puberulent above and below especially along the veins, lighter below. Inflorescence as described for the genus; bracts ovate- lanceolate, about 6 mm. long; pedicels up to 10 or more cm. long in lowermost flowers. Flower red, very ornamental; calyx-tube from pedicellar articulation about 7 mm. tall, shallow within; calyx-lobes spatulate-lanceolate, 2.5-3 cm. long, valvate in bud, reflexed in age; petals large, about 6 cm. long, spreading, the claw about 3 cm. long, expanding apically, tomentulose within, the blade suborbicular,
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Habit
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tree
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Description
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usually 3-3.5 cm. wide, glabrous; stamens about 4 cm. long, tomentose basally; anthers ovate, 4-5 mm. long, bilocular; ovary linear, 1 cm. long or longer, lightly hirsute; style about 3 cm. long, glabrous; stigma terminal, pubescent, unexpanded. Legume broadly linear, frequently 4-6 dm. long and 5-7 cm. wide, scarcely curved, compressed, 2-valved, the valves ligneous; seeds oblong, transverse.
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Distribution
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Native to Madagascar, introduced into world tropics and subtropics; commonly planted in Central America, West Indies and South America.
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Balboa, Standley 30821; Bellavista, Macbride 2764.
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Note
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This colorful tree, the "Royal Poinciana" or "Flamboyant," is one of the most frequently planted tropical ornamentals. Its brilliance during the relatively short flowering season offers Temperate Zone visitors a taste of the expected but often lacking "floral splendor of the tropics."
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