| Peltophorum pterocarpum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Peltophorum |
| Species: | P. pterocarpum |
| Binomial name | |
| Peltophorum pterocarpum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Peltophorum pterocarpum (commonly known ascopperpod,yellow-flamboyant,yellow flametree,yellow poinciana oryellow-flame)[3] is a species of tree in the familyFabaceae, native to tropical areas fromIndo-China to northernAustralia. It produces masses of golden flowers in the summer, making it a popular ornamental tree around the world. It was first described in 1825.
It is adeciduous tree growing to 15–25 m (rarely up to 50 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m belonging to Family Leguminosae and sub-family Caesalpiniaceaea. The leaves arebipinnate, 30–60 cm long, with 16–20 pinnae, each pinna with 20–40 oval leaflets 8–25 mm long and 4–10 mm broad. The flowers are yellow, 2.5–4 cm in diameter and produced in large compoundraceme up to 20 cm long. Pollens are approximately 50 microns in size.
The fruit is apod 5–10 cm long and 2.5 cm broad, red at first, ripening black, and containing one to four seeds. Trees begin to flower after about four years.[4][5]
Although it is fast-growing[1] and very drought tolerant[2], the tree does not tolerate frost[3] and has a very short lifespan of a maximum of 50 years.[4]
Peltophorum pterocarpum is native to tropicalsoutheast Asia and northernAustralasia: in Australia (including islands off theNorthern Territory coast);Sri Lanka; in Southeast Asia toIndonesia,Malaysia,Papua New Guinea,Philippines,Thailand andVietnam.[3][4]
The tree is widely grown in tropical regions as anornamental tree, particularly inIndia,Nigeria,Pakistan, andFlorida andHawaii in theUnited States. Used as decorating flower inTelangana State's Batukamma festival. The trees have been planted alternately withDelonix regia (Poinciana) in India, as a common scheme for avenue trees, giving a striking yellow and red effect in summer.[6]
The wood has a wide variety of uses, including cabinet-making[7] and the foliage is used as afodder crop.[4] The brownish colour calledsogan typical ofbatik cloth from inland Java in Indonesia is produced fromP. pterocarpum, which is known there assoga.[8]
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