Delonix regia, Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant,Flametree,
צאלון נאה

Scientific name:		Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf.
Synonym name:		Poinciana regia Bojer ex Hook.
Common name:		Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant,Flametree,
Hebrew name:		צאלון נאה
Family:		Fabaceae, קטניות

Life form:		Deciduous tree
Stems:		9-12 m tall; smooth, light-brown bark
Leaves:		Alternate, compound, bipinnate, oblong, entire margin
Inflorescence:		Corymbs 15-30 cm long, borne laterally near the end of the twig, each with loosely arranged, slightly fragrant flowers
Flowers:		4 Scarlet or orange-red petals, up to 8 cm long, and a fifth upright petal called the standard, which is slightly larger and spotted with yellow and white
Fruits / pods:		Seed pods, elongated, dark brown; up to 60 cm long, 5 cm wide
Flowering Period:		April, May
Origin:		Madagascar
Summer shedding:		Perennating

Derivation of the botanical name: Delonix, delos, "evident"; onux, "a claw"; a reference to the form of the petals. regia, regius, "royal".Regal, of or belonging to a king. Poinciana, in honour of M. de Poinci, 17th Century Governor of the Antilles, from where the plant was first brought. The standard author abbreviation Bojer is used to indicate Wenceslas Bojer (1795 – 1856), a Czech naturalist and botanist. The standard author abbreviation Hook. is used to indicate William Jackson Hooker (1785 – 1865), an English systematic botanist, organiser, and botanical illustrator. The standard author abbreviation Raf. is used to indicate Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (1783 – 1840), a naturalist, philologist, and a genius. Born in Turkey of a German mother and a French father; died in Philadelphia, USA.