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Delonix regia
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Poinciana regia |
| Common Name: | Flame-of-the-forest, Semarak Api, Merak, Flamboyan, Fleur-de-paradis, Red Flame, Phoenix tree, Royal Poinciana, Flame Tree, Poinciana, Flamboyant Tree, Gul Mohur, Semarkat Api, Sepanggil, 凤凰花, 凤凰木, 红花楹, 火树, 火焰木, 孔雀树 |
Name
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. In Singapore and other places without pronounced seasonality, the time of leaf-shedding varies among individuals. |
|---|---|
| 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. Leaflets are small and oblong (8 - 10 mm long, 3 - 4 mm wide). |
| 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. Petals are round near the apex and narrow to a thin strip near the base. It tends to shed half its leaves before blooming. Flowers bloom abundantly, sometimes covering the crown in red flowers. 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 |
| Cultivation | Tolerant of a variety of soils that range from acidic to alkaline and loamy to rocky, but it prefers soils with good drainage. Prune severely to keep it compact; lightly prune the tree to promote a fuller crown. Grows quickly in fertile soil (1.5 m per year) until it reaches maturity; poor soil will slow its growth. Water seedlings thoroughly until they become established, and then, only during severe droughts afterwards. The tree flowers more abundantly in drier soils compared to moist soils. Reduce watering to a minimum when the plant is in dormancy. Requires little nutrients, because it receives nutrients from nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Flowering may begin after 5 - 10 years of growth. Protect plants from termites. |
| Etymology | The genus name “Delonix” originates from the Greek words “delos” which means visible or conspicuous and “onux” which means claw. The petals of Delonix regia have a claw-like shape at the base. The species epithet “regia” comes from the Latin word “regis” which means royal or magnificent. The common name of “Royal Poinciana” comes from naming the plant after M. de Poinci, a governor of the French West Indies in the 18th century. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There is currently one individual of Delonix regia listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found in Fort Canning Park. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. |
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. Tolerant of the often poor growing conditions of urban landscapes (eg., soil compaction, pollution, drought and poor drainage). The small and numerous leaflets produce a fine leaf texture that appears delicate and lacy. 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 |
| Propagule Establishment Remarks | Propagate from seed or tip cuttings. Increase the seed germination rate by submerging the seeds in boiling water for 10 seconds and then soaking them for 24 hours in cold or lukewarm water. Seeds may be stored for several months if placed in a cool, dry environment. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous, Drought / Semi-Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Bipinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Grey |
| Mature Bark Texture | Smooth |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Waxy |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| First-Blooming Flower Bud in Inflorescence | Distal (Determinate Blooming) |
| Flowering Period | Hot & Dry Period, A Few Times Yearly |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Flowering Calendar | Mar, Apr, May |
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 |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1545 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2838 |
| 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. |