Flame Tree: How the Gulmohar tree lights up our lanes

Flame Tree: Gulmohar (Delonix regia), also known as Royal Poinciana or flame tree or fire tree is one of the most beautiful trees in the world. It is a semi-evergreen tree and it has a wide-spreading, dome-shaped crown and broadly ovate, 2-pinIt is perhaps one of the oldest ornamental trees grown with one of the earliest records of cultivation in UAE, India and Middle East. The Gulmohar has flowers the colour of fire, and lights up our lanes at a time we’re all struggling with the gloom of the coronavirus lockdown.

Beautiful Tree in the World

One of the most beautiful trees in the world, the Gulmohar ( Delonix regia) , also called the Royal Poinciana, or sometimes the flame tree or fire tree

Also known as royal Poinciana or flamboyant tree, flame tree is one of the world’s most colorful trees.

Brachychiton acerifolius is a large tree of the family Malvaceae endemic to tropical and subtropical regions on the east coast of Australia. It is famous for the bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the whole tree when it is leafless.

Their bright, waxy, flame-colored blossoms grow profusely in large clusters at the ends of bare branches, covering the whole tree and attracting native bees.

Royal poinciana

Algae

Royal poinciana: It Usually Grows To A Modest Height (Mostly 5 Meters, But It Can Reach An Maximum Height Of 12 Meters) But Spreads Widely.

Flame Tree	Details
Scientific name	Delonix regia
Conservation status	Least Concern Encyclopedia of Life
Higher classification	Delonix
Family	Fabaceae
Kingdom	Plantae
Order	Fabales
Subfamily	Caesalpinioideae
Lifespan	Poinciana trees grow about 5 feet (1.5 meters) per year until they reach full height, and they can live over 50 years.
Maintenance	There are no major pest or disease problems.
Care	Water when the soil gets dry but take good care not to overwater the flame tree.
Also Called	Flame tree, street tree, fire tree
Characteristics	This tree's leathery, green ...
Division	Tracheophyta (vascular plants)
Species	acerifolius
Family	Malvaceae
Soil pH	Acidic, neutral, alkaline
Flower Color	Red, orange
Soil Type	Loamy, sandy, clay, well-drained
Hardiness Zones	10–12 (USDA)
Country of Origin	Madagascar

Growing Gulmohar at home : 

Gulmohar needs quite a space to grow and is suitable to be grown in summers. 

1. Soil: 

As Gulmohar is a native to Madagascar, it has adapted to soils of every tropical regions.  Soil should be above freezing temperatures and have enough warmth. And have a right balance of manure and fertilisers. 

2. Seed preparation: 

You can grow Gulmohar either through Scarification process (the process of cutting or weakening the outer coating of the seed so that it can germinate easily) or soaking the seed in hot water for about 10 minutes before sowing them for better germination. 

3. Maintenance: 

It requires moderate amounts of sunlight. This plant grows upto 5 ft. per year so it matures and blossom very fast. In the initial growth stages, prune the plant carefully and regularly. This plant is extremely resistant to most kinds of pesky pests, so pests won’t be a problem, but its wood is vulnerable to animals and insects. 

Importance of Gulmohar tree : 

1. Ornamental value : The reason for its wide cultivation is its aesthetic value.

It is found mostly on the sides of roads and pavements. The tree has a delicate aroma and beautiful appearance because of its excellent shade. 

2. Cultural value : Gulmohar is considered sacred in Kerala. It is the city flower of Selangor and Malaysia.

Uses of Gulmohar : 

Commercial Uses

• The wood is used for fuel, the calorific value of the wood being 4600 kcal/kg.
• Its flowers are used in producing bee forage.
• Gulmohar tree produces a thick water – soluble gum which is then used as a binding agent in manufacturing tablets and also in textile industries.
• As its seeds are quite hard and elongated they are used to make beads.
• The seeds are used in making Pangam Oil which is used in tanning industry.

Description – Delonix regia

Delonix regia or Flame Tree is semi-evergreen tree (fully deciduous in areas with a long, dry season). It has a wide-spreading, dome-shaped crown and broadly ovate, 2-pinnate, bright green leaves, 30-50cm long, each pinna divided into 10-25 pairs of elliptic to oblong leaflets. From spring to summer, bears many scarlet flowers, 10-13cm across, the standard petals pale yellow and striped with red. Height to 10m, Spread 5-10m. Native of Madagascar.

Max Height: 10m

Spread: 5-10m

Origin: Madagascar

Family: Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosa

Common Name: Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant Tree, Flame Tree, Peacock Flower, Gulmohar

Flower Colour: Orange

Drought Tolerance: High

Salinity Tolerance: Medium

Sun Tolerance: High

Wind Tolerance: High

Water Requirement: Low

PH Level: Basic

Pest Tolerance: High

Disease Tolerance: High

Growth Rate: Fast

Fragrance: No

Price Ranges from: 55.00 AED – 2,500.00 AED

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