Photograph of tropical Royal Poinciana Tree, Flame of the Forest,
Malinche, Arbol de Fuego,
(Delonix regia)

 

Close up photograph of tropical Royal Poinciana Foliage and Flowers,
Flame of the Forest, Malinche, Arbol de Fuego,
(Delonix regia)

Royal Poinciana, Flame of the Forest is a tropical plant or small tree that is easily grown from seed
and can be trained in a container inside where there is adequate light and heat.
Seeds of Delonix regia are offered by the
GreenDealer Exotic Seeds from the selection of trees, rainforest plants and tropical houseplants.

 

Royal Poinciana, Flame of the Forest, Malinche, Arbol de Fuego,
Delonis Regia

Delonix is a genus of tropical trees which belong to the Fabaceae or Bean Family. It was formerly classified in the genus Poinciana and is frequently referred to still as Royal Poinciana. Other names for it are: Flame of the Forest, Forest Flame and Flamboyant. In Spanish it is sometimes referred to as Arbol de Fuego (Tree of Fire). In Costa Rica and elsewhere in Central America it is referred to as Malinche after a beautiful young Indian woman of that name. Malinche is said to have been so beautiful that she persuaded the comandante, who fell in love with her, to spare her people from extermination at the hands of the conquistadors.

By whatever name you prefer to call it, Delonix regia is one of the most beautiful trees in all of tropical America. It grows from Florida in the north throughout the Caribbean region, Central America, and South America. It is a wide growing tropical tree to 40 feet high with rounded or domed top arching down at the sides. It usually grows at an angle as though leaning. Its leaves grow to 2 ft. with 10 to 20 leaflets each. The most spectacular thing about this tree is its beautiful scarlet-red flowers that nearly obliterate the lime green foliage when it full bloom. The ground beneath the tree glows scarlet-vermillion when the fan-shaped leaves finally drop. 2 foot long, dark brown, woody pods dangle from the tree containing the nearly black seeds.

The specimens shown above were photographed in the small city of Liberia, Costa Rica, in June of 1999. At only slightly higher than sea level, Liberia is in the northwest provence of Guanacaste, the hottest and driest region of Costa Rica. Delonix regia is not generally seen at higher, cooler altitudes. I did not see a single specimen at the higher altitudes of the Central Valley or anywhere in or around the city of San José at 3000 ft. and more.

Winter hardy in the tropical zones 9 - 11 at lower altitudes.

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