PLANT NAME : Delonix Regia
PLANTED BY : Eswaramma (Green belt)
DATE : 16-08-2024
TIME : 11:58 AM
PLANT LOCATION
Plant description
Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae native to Madagascar. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of orange-red flowers over summer. In many tropical parts of the world it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English it is given the name royal poinciana, flamboyant, phoenix flower, flame of the forest, or flame tree
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
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| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
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Lifespan (in Singapore)
| Perennial |
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| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Umbrella |
| Maximum Height | 9 m to 20 m |
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width
| 12 m to 18 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Madagascar |
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| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Monsoon Forest) |
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| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
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| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is deciduous in climates with a dry season, shedding its leaves at the end of the wet season. |
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| Crown | Small tree (9 – 15 m tall) with an umbrella-shaped crown. |
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| Trunk | Bark grey and smooth. Short trunk having buttress roots. Branches weak and prone to breakage by wind. |
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| Foliage | Bipinnately compound leaves have alternate leaf arrangement (20 - 60 cm long). Each leaf has 9 - 25 pairs of pinnae; each pinnae consists of 14 - 30 pairs of leaflets. |
| Flowers | Flowers bright red and orange (10 – 13 cm in diameter). Each flower has 5 similar-sized petals. One of these is a white or light pink standard petal that has red streaks. They have a subtle fragrance. |
| Fruit | Pods that are initially green and flexible become reddish brown or black, woody and gently curved (30 - 75 cm long, 5 – 8 cm wide) at maturity. Pods each contain 20 – 45 hard, oblong, somewhat flattened seeds (2 cm in length). They split open to release the seeds at maturity. |
| Habitat | Occurs at altitudes of 0 - 1,000 m and rainfall of 750 - 3,000 mm. It is often found in dry, tropical savannas |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Often used in parks, gardens and roadsides due to its bright red flowers. Make an excellent shade or focal point tree. It is salt tolerant and may be planted near the coast, but not directly on an open beach. However, the plants sheds numerous twigs, leaves and large woody pods. Shed twigs, leaves and pods may have allelochemicals that inhibit the growth of neighboring plants. |
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| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
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| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Focal Plant |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, [Remarks] (Delonix regia is light sensitive and trees that grow beside street lamps remain evergreen and do not bloom, or may produce flowers on the side away from the light. ) |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
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| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
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| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting (Tip, Softwood), Marcotting |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
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| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
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| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit, Legume / Pod |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
| Plant Sexuality (non-Angiosperm) | Monoecious |
USES
Delonix regia additionally has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-microbial, antidiarrheal, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-ulcer, anticancer, antihelminthic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, gastroprotective, wound healing, hypoglycaemic and antifeedant activities.
