Caesalpinia pulcherrima L.

രാജമല്ലി

Family : LEGUMINOSAE (Sub fam: Caesalpinioideae)

Synonym : Poinciana pulcherrima L.

Common Names : Barbados Pride, Dwarf Poinciana

Flowering Period : Throughout the year

Distribution : Native to tropical America

Habitat : Grown as ornamental plant

Uses : Young seeds edible - raw or cooked. The root is astringent, bitter, emmenagogue and, in larger doses, is used as an abortifacient. An infusion of leaf is used to relieve constipation, as a treatment for kidney stones, and to accelerate childbirth. An infusion of flower is used as a treatment for gall bladder problems. An ink is made from the charred wood. The wood makes an excellent charcoal.

Key Characters :

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a branching shrubs. Leaves bipinnate; pinnae 4-8 pairs; leaflets 6-8 pairs on each pinna, elliptic to obovate, base cuneate, apex rounded. Flowers in terminal corymbose racemes. Calyx outer lobe cucullate, enclosing the flower bud. Petals subequal, commonly flame-red but sometimes yellow. Stamens 10; filaments reddish. Pods obliquely oblong, compressed, short-stipitate, beaked at apex, 8-10-seeded. Seeds, obovate, compressed, black.