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Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.

Family Name:	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Synonyms:	Poinciana pulcherrima
Common Name:	Peacock Flower, Barbados Flower Fence, Flower Fence, Jambol Merak, Cana, Barbados Pride, Red Bird of Paradise, Paradise Flower, Flamboyant Tree, Gold Mohur, Pride of Barbados, Jambul Merak, 金凤花, 洋凤花, 孔雀花

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Bee-Attracting Plant

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Shrub

Tree

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub, Tree (Small (6m-15m), Shrubby (1m-5m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition

Autotrophic

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Growth Form	Upright shrub, sometimes small tree, able to grow up to 3 - 6 m tall and with a spread of 2 - 4 m wide.
Foliage	Bi-pinnate foilage with small, oval leaflets.
Stems	Green, turning grayish-brown as the stems become woodier, covered with spines, which swell at the base upon maturity.

Flowers	Orange, yellow and red combination, scentless with long stamens and pistil. There is one modified petal which is smaller than the other 4 petals, flowers borne in terminal clusters.
Fruit	Oblong, flat pod, thin, up to 10 cm long. Pods split to disperse the single row of flattened seeds.
Cultivation	This attractive shrub flowers throughout the year. Once a year hard pruning is recommended to retain the vigor of the plant. Blooming is reduced when plant is under too much shade. It can be easily propagated by seeds.
Etymology	Genus epithet 'Caesalpinia' honours the Italian physician, philosopher and botanist, Andrea Caesalpino, and species epithet 'pulcherrima' means 'most beautiful', referring to the flowers.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Medicinal: The Indonesians pound the roots and give it to children afflicted with convulsions. The bark is used to treat diarrhea. The flowers are claimed to be effective against intestinal worms and cure sores. The leaves are believed to have purgative properties and used to induce abortion and for fever. The west Indians pound the flowers and leaves into a decoction to treat fever. The seeds are used to cure breathing difficulty and chest pain.

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	General, Flowerbed / Border, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens
Thematic Landscaping	Butterfly Garden

Usage Hazard - Cons

Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch, Spines/Thorns - Leaf, Weak Branches

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Butterfly Food Plant, Bee-Attracting
Pollination Method(s)	Abiotic (Self-Pollinated), Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee), Insects (Butterfly, Moth))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence)

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Easy to Grow
Maintenance Requirements	Low
Propagation Method	Seed
Planting Distance	1

Foliar Type	Compound (Bipinnate)
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Oval)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Rounded
Foliar Base	Truncate / Square

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root)

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod

Images

Master ID	444
Species ID	1740
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.