Polamma (Green belt)

           

PLANT NAME :      Delonix Regia

PLANTED BY  :     Polamma (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)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

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
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Monsoon Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

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.
Crown	Small tree (9 – 15 m tall) with an umbrella-shaped crown.
Trunk	Bark grey and smooth. Short trunk having buttress roots. Branches weak and prone to breakage by wind.

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.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Focal Plant

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. )
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting (Tip, Softwood), Marcotting

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
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.