Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. It could be native to the West Indies, but its exact origin is unknown due to widespread cultivation. Common names for this species include poinciana, peacock flower, red bird of paradise, Mexican bird of paradise, dwarf poinciana, pride of Barbados, flos pavonis, and flamboyant-de-jardin. The Hawaiian name for this plant is ʻohai aliʻi.

Description

A bush or shrub. It grows 3 m tall. It has a single stem at the base. It branches widely. The leaves are compound and are divided twice. There can be 12 pairs of leaflets. These are 2 cm long. There are long flower spikes on the ends of most branches. The flowers have long stalks. The flowers can be red, pink, gold or yellow. The petals have wavy edges. The stamens are long. The fruit are flat, hanging pods. They are 12 cm long. They are green and turn dark brown. The pods twist open on the tree.

Edible Uses

The mature seeds are eaten raw, young seeds are eaten fresh or cooked, and flowers are lightly cooked and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The mature seeds are eaten raw. The young seeds are eaten fresh or cooked. The flowers are lightly cooked and eaten. Caution: The plant can contain hydrocyanide so needs to be cooked before using.

Medicinal Uses

Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century artist, encountered this plant in the Dutch colony of Surinam. In her work, Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium, Merian recorded that African slaves and native Indian populations used the flos pavonis or peacock flower as an abortifacient in their practice of traditional medicine. She wrote: The Indians, who are not treated well by their Dutch masters, use the seeds [of this plant] to abort their children, so that their children will not become slaves like they are. The black slaves from Guinea and Angola have demanded to be well treated, threatening to refuse to have children. They told me this themselves. The leaves, flower, bark, and seeds of C. pulcherrima were also used by American Indians in traditional medicine as abortifacients and for suicide by enslaved peoples.

Known Hazards

The plant can contain hydrocyanide and must be cooked before use.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows throughout the tropics. It East Africa it grows best near the coast. It does best with moderate rainfall and a seasonally dry climate. It suits sandy, well-drained soil. It needs full sun. It is salt tolerant. It is damaged by drought or frost. It grows below 2,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Barbados*, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Caroline Islands, Central America, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Niue, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed. Seed need treatment before sowing. They can also be grown from cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 - 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out. Softwood cuttings in sand in a frame.

Other Uses

An ink is made from the charred wood. The seeds (seedpods?) are a source of tannins. A yellow dye (when combined with alum) or black dye (when combined with iron) can be obtained. The heartwood is pale pink or lustrous golden brown to dull brown; it is clearly demarcated from the thin band of yellowish-white sapwood. The wood has no distinctive taste, but has a faint rancid odour; it is straight-grained; fine-textured; heavy, strong, compact, but susceptible to insect attack. The wood makes an excellent charcoal. The plant is very tolerant of pruning, regrowing even if cut right back to ground level. It is often grown as a hedge.

Production

It is fast growing.

Notes

There are about 150 Caesalpinia species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Alai-apaw, Bunga merak, Butsu krismas, Caballero, Cana, Chana, Chinna turai, Daung-sok, Diep cung, Diep ta, Fathangumaa, Fitihetau, Guacamayo, Gulu-tora, Gulutura, Haang-nok-yung-thai, Hang nok yung tai, Jambul merak, Kemerakan barbados, Kenjige, Kim phuong, Krasna cezalpinija, Krishnachura, Laupa, Malinche, Mayikonnai, Mnyonyore, Monara mal, Nok yung tai, Pamiditangedu, Peacock flower, Pride of Barbados, Ratanagandhi, Ratnagandhi, Sandhesharo, Seinban-gale, Settimandaram, Suma, Tabachin, Viranga, Zaung-gale

References (36)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 94
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 72
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 111
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 181
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.

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