22

Caesalpinia pulcherrima L.

Synonym: Poinciana pulcherrima L.

CAESALPINIOIDEAE

Local Names : രാജമല്ലി,  Dwarf Poinciana, Barbados pride 

Flowering Period : Throughout the year.

Distribution : Probably native in Tropical America. Now it is widely cultivated

Uses: Ornamental

Exotic : Yes.

Branching shrubs.  Leaves bipinnate; pinnae 4-8 pairs; leaflets 6-8 pairs on each pinna, elliptic to obovate, base cuneate, apex rounded. Flowers in terminal corymbose racemes. Calyx outer lobe cucullate, enclosing the flower bud. Petals subequal, commonly flame-red but sometimes yellow.  Stamens 10; filaments reddish.  Pods  obliquely oblong, compressed, short-stipitate, beaked at apex, 8-10-seeded.  Seeds, obovate, compressed, black.