"Asunting"/ Candle Bush

Description:

This specimen was about 1.5 meters tall. Compound leaves about 2 feet long (sorry for my mixing up my units metric/standard!) with broadly oval leaflets. Flowers were spectacular! Large bright orangey-yellow spikes, with individual blossoms very "puffy" looking. These spikes were perhaps 6 to 8" long. I think it may be in the legume family, as I seem to recall seeing slender pods. Plus the compound leaves. Not sure! :)

Habitat:

This was growing in the overgrown courtyard at my in-laws home, rural Bohol.

Notes:

My hubby told me this plant is widely sought after for medicinal purposes: it's milky sap is an effective treatment for ringworm and other skin fungal infections. No wonder they left this to grow after clearing the area!