Scientific name: Delonix regia

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: Madagascar, Africa.

Popular names: flamboyant, poinciana, paradise flower, rosewood, red acacia and flaming tree.

Natural occurrence: in all regions of Brazil.

Characteristics: the flamboyant is an exotic forest species, reaching up to 20 meters in height. Their trunks are strong and, almost always, slightly twisted. Flowering occurs between the months of September and January. Each flower has a calyx with five sepals and a crown of five petals. The pod-like fruits measure around 45 centimeters long and turn brown when ripe.

Uses: It is widely used as an ornamental in tropical areas of the world, due to its dense foliage and exuberant flowers. They also have bioactive molecules, such as galactomannans, extracted from their seeds, which are used as raw materials in the pharmaceutical industry, in the production of capsules that coat drugs, and in food, with thickening properties.

See all tree and shrub species mapped on Bahiana