179 



POINCIANA PULCHERRIMA. 



(Beautiful Poinciana.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. LEGUMINOS.«. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 

 Poinciana (Lin.) Calycis sepala 5 insequalia basi in cupulam subpersistentem coalita, infe- 

 rior fornicato. Fetala 5 stipitata, superiore difformi. Stamina 10 longissima, omnia fecunda, 

 filamentis basi hirsutis. Stylus longissimus. Legumen plano-compressum bivalve submulti- 

 loculare isthmis spongiosis. Semina obovata compressa, endoplevra in aqua gelatinosa, cotyle- 

 donibus planis, plumula ovali. Frutices aut arbores elegantissimse, aculeatse aut inermes. Folia 

 abrupte bipinnata. Flores paniculato-corymbosi. Pedicelli longi basi ebracteati. — Decandolle, 

 Prod. vol. ii. p. 483. 



Sepals five, unequal, joined at the base into a somewhat persistent cup, the lower one arched. 

 Petals five, stipitate, havirig the upper one of a different form. Stamens ten, very long, all 

 bearing anthers, filaments hairy at the base. Style very long. Legume flatly compressed, two- 

 valved, somewhat many-celled with spongy isthmuses. Seeds obovate, compressed, having the 

 internal integument in a gelatinous water, cotyledons flat, plumula oval. Shrubs or elegant 

 trees, prickly or smooth. Leaves abruptly bipinnate. Flowers disposed in a corymbose panicle. 

 Pedicels long, without bracteas at the base. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 

 P. pulcherrima (Lin.) ; aculeata, foliolis ovatis obovatisve emarginatis glabris ; petalis fim- 

 briatis longe stipitatis. 



Prickly leaflets ovate or obovate, notched at the end, smooth; petals fimbriate, longly 

 stipitate. 



Poinciana pulcherrima. — Lin. — Bot. Mag. t. 995. 

 Csesalpina pulcherrima. — Swartz. 



This most magnificent shrub grows to the height of ten feet and upwards ; 

 and, as the plate shows, bears panicles of the most brilliant flowers. It is a 

 native of the East Indies. Ligou states, that it was imported into Barbadoes 

 from the Cape de Verd Islands. Its beauty has attracted the attention of the 

 Chinese for some time, and wherever they settle they cultivate it, and call it by 

 the name of the peacock's crest. It was introduced into Holland from Amboyna 

 about the year 1670, and was cultivated in the Chelsea Garden by Sir Hans 



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