DELONIX
Delonix
Raf., Fl. Tellur. 2: 92. 1837; Chen et al., Fl. China @ eFloras.org 10: 40; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org
Trees, unarmed. Leaves large, stipulate, bipinnate, pinnae many pairs, leaflets numerous, small. Inflorescence corymbose raceme at the ends of branches (terminal). Flowers zygomorphic, bisexual, pentamerous, perigynous, showy, white, orange or red, large. Bracts caducous, small. Receptacle discoid or turbinate. Sepals 5, obovate, subequal, valvate. Petals 5, orbicular, clawed, margin crispate, imbricate, subequal or the uppermost dissimilar. Stamens 10, free, declinate. Monocarpellary, ovary sessile, unilocular, ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma truncate. Legumes elongated, pendulous, compressed, strap-shaped, 2- valved; valves thickly woody, hard. Seeds transverse, oblong.
12 species
Delonix regia
Delonix regia
(Bojer ex Hook.) Raf., Fl. Tellur. 2: 92. 1837; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed. 1. 181. 1918 (Reprint 1973); ed. 3. 554. 1956; Blatter, Millard & Stearn, Some Beaut. Ind. Trees, ed. 2. 52. 1954; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 10: 40; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org; kerelaplants.in; Poinciana regia Bojer ex Hook.f., Bot. Mag. t. 2884. 1829; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 260. 1878.
Trees, deciduous, large, up to 20 m tall. Bark greyish brown, smooth, crown hemispherical. Branches numerous, spreading, branchlets puberulent with conspicuous lenticels. Stipules large, leafy, uni- or bipinnate, ca. 1 cm x 2 cm, leaflets unequal in size and shape. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, 20-60 cm long; petioles 7-14 cm long, pulvinate at base, glabrous to puberulent, petiole and rachis sulcate, sulcus discontinuous on rachis, pubescent; pinnae 14-20 pairs, opposite, 6-16 cm long, petiolules short, ca. 5 mm long with pulvinate base; leaflets 10-26 pairs, crowded, opposite, oblong, 6-11 mm x 4-5 mm, midvein conspicuous, base oblique, margin entire, apex obtuse, lateral veins obscure, occasionally pubescent, petiolules ca. 1 mm with base pulvinate. Flowers bisexual, bright red to orange-red, in terminal or lateral corymbose panicles; ca. 10 cm across; pedicels 4-10 cm long. Receptacle shortly turbinate. Calyx tube very short, lobes 5, obovate, valvate, nearly equal, 3-3.2 cm x 0.7-0.8 cm, reddish inside, pale green outside, reflexed down on maturity. Petals 5, free, orbicular to suborbicular, margin crispate, subequal, 5.5-5.8 cm x 4.1-4.3 cm, clawed, claws ca. 2 cm long, pubescent outside, petal (standard) ca. 6.3 cm x 4 cm, obovate, yellowish or white, streaked with red; petals reflexed after anthesis. Stamens 10, free, declinate, curved upwards, red, unequal in length, 3-5 cm; filaments thick woolly in lower part; anthers uniform, red, 5-6 mm x 2.5-3 mm, oblong, dorsifixed, dehiscence longitudinal. Ovary half-inferior, subsessile, ca. 1.3 cm long, adpressed pubescent, unilocular, ovules numerous, placentation marginal; style filiform, ca. 3 cm long; stigma small, truncate, ciliate. Legumes pendulous, compressed, strap-shaped, elongated, 30-60 cm x 3.5-5 cm slightly curved, apex with persistent style, 2-valved, valves thick, woody, dark reddish brown. Seeds 20-40, oblong, transverse yellowish tinged with brown spots, ca. 15 mm x 7 mm, smooth, hard.
Common Names: Flambuoyant, Flame Tree or Flame of the forest, Phoenix flower, Royal Poinciana; Gulmohar (Hindi)
