flamboyant, royal poinciana

Description:

One of two of these magnificent trees at this location. Also sometimes called the flame tree (like a few other "fiery" species), it is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful tropical trees in the world and although widely cultivated in the tropics since the 19th century, the native habitat of the flamboyant was unknown to science until the 1930s, when it was rediscovered growing in the wild in Madagascar. This tree produces striking flame-like scarlet and yellow flowers. As the trees mature, they develop broad umbrella-shaped crowns, and are often planted for their shade-giving properties. The delicate, fern-like leaves are composed of small individual leaflets, which fold up at the onset of dusk. This tree produces brown, woody seed pods that reach lengths of up to 60 cm that turn reddish-brown to almost black when ripe.

Habitat:

Growing as an ornamental on a school campus in the lower foothills of the Cyclops mountains of equatorial northern New Guinea.