Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental plant widely cultivated for its beautiful flowers. Also used for hedges and as a bonsai subject. Food- Tender young seeds are consumed raw or cooked and has a sweetish flavour. Medicine- A decoction or infusion of the roots, bark, leaves or flowers is used as a purgative and emmenagogue. Dye- A yellow dye (when combined with alum) or black dye (when combined with iron) can be obtained
Mexico and Central America
Thrives in tropical and subtropical regions, in full sun and well-drained soil.
It is shrub or small tree typically reaching a height of 300 cm. Evergreen with a bushy rounded shape.
Stem is woody with thorns, often green when young.
Leaves are bipinnate, 12-26 cm long, with numerous small leaflets.
Flowers are showy, clustered in shades of red, orange, or yellow. Individual flowers have long, prominent stamens.
Fruit is long, flat, brown pod containing seeds.
Flowering and Fruiting: year-round.