Trees 8–12 m; bark smooth. Leaves early deciduous (30–50 cm); stipules early decidu­ous, pinnate, 5–15 mm; petiole 2–4 cm, with pubescent sphe­roid projections between pinnae pairs; leaflet blades light green abaxially, elliptic to shortly oblong, 5–10 × 2–4 mm, midrib evident, lateral veins not evident, surfaces initially puberulent. Pedicels 5–8 cm, jointed apically. Flowers: calyx deeply lobed, red inside, 20–25 mm; lobes subequal and recurving at anthesis, falling with petals, elliptic; corolla somewhat zygomorphic, 80–100 mm diam.; petals 40–70 mm, long-clawed, blade obovate to orbiculate; filaments subequal to petals, tawny-hirsute basally. Legumes persistent, 300–600 × 40–65 mm. Seeds ivory streaked with brown, 20 mm. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering late summer.
Habitat: Waste areas.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Fla., Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar), introduced also in tropical and subtropical regions nearly worldwide.

Discussion

Delonix regia is a rare endemic of Madagascar but is now widely cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics. While planted in Arizona, southern California, and Florida, it is known to escape only in Florida, and there sparingly.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.