Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Mutare

Photo: Mark Hyde
Harry Pichanick Drive, Alexandra Park, Harare

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Synonyms:	Poinciana regia Hook.
Common names:	Flamboyant (English) Royal poinciana (English)
Description:	Tree, ± flat-topped, often multi-trunked and branching near the base. Leaves alternate, c. 40 × 20 cm with c.15 pairs of opposite pinnae, each pinna bearing 25-30 pairs of opposite leaflets. Petiole and rhachis channelled above. Leaflets 8 × 3 mm, oblong, minutely pubescent. Sepals 3 × 0.7 cm, narrowly elliptic, green on the back, scarlet on the adaxial side, acute. Petals 5; lower four petals long-clawed; lamina 5 cm, elliptic, scarlet; upper petal longer, marked with white streaks. Pods large, 35 - 80 cm long, pendulous.
Notes:	This species provides a spectacular scarlet display in November and December. A yellow-flowered form (var. flavida Stehlé) was shown to me (MAH) by LJM in November 2001 in the grounds of Parirenyatwa hospital. This tree was reportedly cut down by contractors in 2021 and no others are known in Harare. This species never appears to become naturalised in Zimbabwe.
Derivation of specific name:	regia: splendid, royal
Flowering time:	Nov - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	Native of Madagascar; very commonly planted in Zimbabwe as a street tree.
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated:	Friday 13 April 2007
Literature:	Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 203 - 204.

Other sources of information about Delonix regia:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: cultivated Delonix regia
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Delonix regia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Delonix regia
African Plant Database: Delonix regia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Delonix regia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Delonix regia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Delonix regia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Delonix regia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Delonix regia
JSTOR Plant Science: Delonix regia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Delonix regia
Plants of the World Online: Delonix regia
Tropicos: Delonix regia
Wikipedia: Delonix regia