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dwarf poinciana, flowerfence, pride-of-Barbados

Habit Shrubs or small trees, 1–6 m.Leaves: stipules caducous; petiole 3.2–6.5 mm, glabrous; rachis 4.5–20(–25) cm, glabrous; pinnae pairs opposite; leaflets jugate, blades elliptic to ovate, (6–)10–22(–25) × 4–10(–12) mm, apex rounded, mucronate.
Inflorescences

12–35 cm;

bracts oblong, 4.5–7.7 × 1.3–2.6 mm.

Pedicels

articulate, (2.5–)3–6.2 cm.

Flowers

calyx red or yellow, 3–4.8 × 2–3.5 mm, glabrous;

abaxial lobes (11–)13–17 × 7.2–10 mm, margins denticulate, lateral lobes ovate, (8.2–)10–13.5 × (4.5–)5.5–8 mm, apex rounded, adaxial lobes oblong to elliptic, (7.5–)8–12.5 × (3.3–)4–6.5 mm;

banner with a central scarlet blotch, ovate, (3.5–)4–7(–8.5) × (4.5–)6–10.5 mm, cordate, claw conduplicate, 6–16 mm;

abaxial lateral lobes obovate, 10–16 × 9–18.5 mm, claw 5.8–11 mm, adaxial lateral lobes obovate (9–)10–16 × (9–)10.7–17.6 mm, margins crenulate, apex rounded, claw 6–11.5 mm;

filaments red, exserted, (2.4–)3.8–7 mm, densely pubescent on basal 1/4;

anthers yellow, 1.3–2.5 × 0.9–1.6 mm;

ovary falcate, 2–3 × 4.5–6.3 mm;

style 4.5–6.3 mm, stigma terminal, porate;

ovules 5–12.

Fruits

red when mature, falcate, (6–)7–9.5 × 1.5–2.1 cm.

Seeds

brown or olive, 7.4–9.6 × 6–7.3 mm.

2n

= 24.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Phenology Flowering year-round.
Habitat Roadsides, thickets.
Elevation 0–50 m. [0–160 ft.]
Distribution
from FNA
FL; TX; South America [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is widely cultivated as a garden ornamental.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Caesalpinia
Synonyms Poinciana pulcherrima
Name authority (Linnaeus) Swartz: Observ. Bot., 166. (1791)
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