Delonix regia

Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. (Syn. Delonix regia var. flavida Stehle; Delonix regia var. genuina Stehlé; Delonix regia var. genuina Stehle; Poinciana regia Bojer; Poinciana regia Hook.);
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commonly known as: flamboyant tree, mayflower, peacock flower, royal poinciana • Bengali: গুলমোহর gulmohar • Gujarati: ગુલમોહર gulmohar • Hindi: गुलमोहर gulmohar • Marathi: गुलमोहर gulmohar • Tamil: செம்மயிற்கொன்றை cemmayir-konrai • Telugu: పెద్దతురాయి peddaturayi
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DEE-loh-niks — from Greek delos (conspicuous) and onux (claw); the long-clawed petals
REE-jee-uh — royal
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Native of: Madagascar
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Large deciduous tree to 20 m with bipinnate up to 55 cm long leaves; pinnae 12-20 pair, leaflets 20-30 pairs, up to 10 mm long, oblong; stipules pinnate compound; flowers bright red, up to 10 cm across, in racemes; pod up to 50 cm long, 5 cm broad, thick, compressed
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Gulmohar Tree:
Happy to inform you that the Gulmohar tree which was not flowering has now started flowering.
Here are two photos. Sorry for the picture quality.

– Interestingly I have two trees, one on either side of our building just 50 feet away. One started flowering about 20 days back when leafless, and is now full of bloom. The leaves have just started to appear on lower branches.
The second tree started producing new leaves but no flowers (both are good sized; almost same height). Only 5-6 days ago it started producing flowers after the whole tree was full of leaves. I am uploading both.
Can any member throw some light on explanation for this.

– Congrats to both of you for ex situ conservation of this otherwise endangered (in wild) species in its homeland i.e. Madagascar.

– Endangered in Madagascar [where it is native]; exotic in India

– What are you doing in Forest Dear Gulmohar? © … Till few months back this hill was rich in Boswellia population. The Traditional Healers visit to this hill for collection of Boswellia plant parts in bulk but
without affecting its natural population. Now this Hill is under influence of “Dongar Mafia”. There is an effort to capture the hill as well as its forest in the name of religion. Forest trees are decreasing and Gulmohar like trees are under promotion. Gulmohar is new tree for birds and other forest creatures. Hence they are migrating to other places. That’s why I am asking that what are you doing in Forest Dear Gulmohar? You can see Boswellia tree in background of Gulmohar flowers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3O3iUGWClQ

Lady in Red: Gulmohar in Summer-1 © Pankaj Oudhia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMB8uQeCM2Y

– Would like to try to offer an explanation for this by taking an analogy from the Indian Laburnum.
As I had stated in a previous mail :
“Forgot to mention that people who plant a Cassia fistula tree in the centre of their lawns and expect it to flower in summer, are solely disappointed because the moisture from watering the lawn is a deterrent to the tree to flower.”
available at this link:
https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/=indi…
It is therefore possible that while the tree in the first photograph is behaving like any self-respecting Gulmohar should at the height of the summer season, the tree in the second photograph may be placed near a water source like an underground drain / tank or alternatively it may be receiving excessive watering by over-zealous gardeners.

– I feel you are right. First is along the fence and second in the lawn.

– Yes. You are right.  The horticulture experts’ advice in general: withdraw water  at the time of  flowering initiation. Gulmohar flowers profusely  in Mysore and Bangaolore, whereas in Chennai it is not so and the flowering is not on time (May). In fact in Mysore it is called May flower. Excessive humidity may be a deterrent factor.

– My tree produced the flowers for the first time after its planting ten years ago.  I had lost the hope only to see it flowering, but said to myself why if no flowers, the tree itself is beautiful and on a morning I saw small flower buds on its branches.   As said by Mr. .. there is no water body near to it. I think there are two huge bottle palms on its sides which hampered its growth.

– Some times, even if the plant is in shade during most of the day time wont flower, if it is a summer flowering. Then when the path of sun changes by time, the plant flowers.

– Regarding FLOWERING TIME of Gulmohar:
I have six trees on the street visible from all windows in my home… one sets a few flowers in end of march, fills up by April 15th, one behind it starts in april, fills up in end of april, 3rd and 4th are half way red by end of april and the last two flower in may, mid may to be precise… I note these dates because I am slowly developing
allergic conjunctivitis to Krishnachura pollen…this long pollen season is not fun.

    These are mature trees, at their tallest,(( their branches are beginning to get that weird J shapes sometimes when they get too long))… so they are upto 4th 5th floor balconies and windows……. this sequence of flowering has been maintained for last decade…..they are street trees, part dirt, part pavement… all get the same rain, and same sustained heat from the building cement… and same abuse from pollution, horns, junk thrown, people sitting leaning on their trunks,.  and same air humidity.. and same sunlight …
Since KMC (Kolkata corporation its department for such trees) planted them at the same time, they came from the same nursery…. untill a few years ago they were purchased I am told at one rupee per chara… so was cheapest to plant… hence so frequently planted ….
Yet there might be some genetic variation  and a reason for flowering at different times ….
I have yet to discover it…
Additionally I dont think its the water quantity… there is one on a lake shore and a bridge,  over which I drive everyday, it flowers profusely.. starting first week in April… and now its completely laden…  Dhakuria lake and its surrounding parks, land, and streets were full of Delonix regia trees, and they were the biggest casualty of Hurricane Aila in 2009…  they were the most commonly toppled tree… and where damage was done, this tree did the worst….
AND PEOPLE ARE VERY ATTACHED to the red flowers and they think its the pride of the place… including myself…and in Bengal we have a very romantic name for it:   KRISHNACHURA.. who won’t love the name and
its owner???
BUT this tree should be restricted for planting…. ITS invasive, its fills the streets and hence sewer with zillions of leaves (hence help street flooding), no birds other than crows nest in them… ( and you know crows will nest anywhere) .. no animal is seen (at least in my urban jungle) eating the seeds , the only animal I see that has any
use for the seeds is the poor womenfolk of the neighborhood who collect fallen pods with their seeds for burning with wood for cooking, the seeds have thick oil…. difficult to express out but ok as fire fuel I guess…  Its the most common tree to topple in hurricanes and kaal baisakhi storms, so common right now in Calcutta… Its wood turns an orangeish red exposed to air, and not really very useful in making furniture of any quality or durability…
no carpenter worth his salt wanted to buy the toppled gulmohur teers. ((They made beeliine for some other trees..))… we saw street dwellers slowly hacking away this wood for their street chulas…
Its myriad seeds find disturbed land even broken sidewalk hospitable , and they sprout and grow… can not be transplanted if the root breaks even a little while trying, roots go very deep very quickly…  so I imagine when it self seeds in countryside it can play havoc….
I HOPE I HAVE NOT SERIOUSLY DISTURBED GULMOHUR LOVERS ( I am one)  …but we must learn to temper that love and think of value added urban landscape….  I would love to see birds other than just crows, and native species like neem, mango, kathal, aswatha, bot and a hundred others  thrive…  in a lively mix… so not plant any new gulmohurs till some sane plan is made up….

– For my friends in Madagascar Delonix is valuable medicinal plant.

    Living with this exotic species from long time, innovative young Traditional Healers of India have started experimenting with it. When I documented new findings of these Healers which were not known even in Madagascar, the researchers showed interest to visit India and interact the Healers.
When I was preparing a report on Antioxidant Herbs I found the name of Gulmohar in Top 100 Antioxidants herbs of the world. There are plus and minus sides of all species.
If you are sure that you are allergic to Delonix then without any delay consult the Homoeopath. He will prepare medicine from Delonix itself which will cure you forever. Similia Simlibus Curantur is root of Homoeopathy.
“Parthenium Hysterophorus” is valuable medicine in Homoeopathy and used to manage Parthenium allergy successfully.

– Mass planting of Gulmohars should be dicouraged.

    No doubt they are beautiful but in India they have little ecological value. Gulmohar has spectacular blooms [ I am personally very fond of the flowers] but the tree does not provide any shade during the hot summer months.
It is invasive with a very shallow root system and brittle branches. The 1st victim of monsoon in Mumbai is the Gulmohar, whch is uprooted easily.
In the gardens planting a gulmohar is fine but on hillsides and open areas the use should be strictly controlled.

– In this famous song on Gulmohar many trees are shown.

Gulmohar gar Tumhara naam hota http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajJo7Moxrrw
Eager to know that whether Gulmohar trees shown in this song still surviving or not?
If I am not wrong scenes are from Mumbai.

– So now it has even a ‘cultural connection’ with us!? Besides its beauty, the fresh petals are also edible, eaten raw by children. I used to prefer only the standard petal for its better taste.
– One more link of Malyalam Movie named Gulmohar (2008). Although language barrier exists but I like this song very much. You can see flowering Gulmohar in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9NvJD8UYR4

– AND I used to like the small green not yet beginning to open flower bud, if fresh…has a tangy taste with astringent after effect… as a child it was fun… but who knew  this tree was only a beauty, that topples and damages… and only crows nest …they dont even eat its fruit, and crows will eat anything!! I still love the color burst!!!!

Gulmohur_Delonix regia:
3 years ago I planted some flowering trees near my home in open ground. This is the forst. The plant was a couple of years old when it was planted. Peltophorum is next in line.

very nice pictures.. so your tree survived and florurished…… and peltoforum is popular too… very obviously for the red and yellow display…
PLEASE refer to a recent discussion we had on the beauty and usefulness/ uselessness of both these trees ….
I refer you to this thread right here on eflora…
http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/457…

I am an old man and I wanted quick results, see the flowers before I become ‘dear to god’ and hence I went for this tree. I have also planted a number of chiraul trees but it has hardly any part which is showy. Among Indian
flowering trees one can immediately name butea, coral, and Indian laburnum. But both palash and kachnar are not a very pretty sight when not in flower, and Indian coral is a delicate tree, I have seen it dying for no rhyme and reason (to the layman). true’ gulmohur is brittle, weak and short lived, but ‘in spite of your faults, I love thee still.’

I am glad you planted them and are enjoying the colors… I am partial to these trees and their red colors , I chose my current abode because there were 8 delonix regia surrounding it… imagine that… and some 20+ years ago I wrote about my love for Krishnachura in an international publication…  so please do not think any aspersion was meant…   may you and your trees grow old together yet…

Bloomig Goldmohar: Bloomig Goldmohar in Seoni (M.P.)

This is a Great Tit [Parus major].

Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae (Caesalpiniaceae) – Bangalore – Delonix regia – GulMohar Tree:  Its called May Flower in Bangalore

Yes … Gulmohar!! Nice Pics

Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae (Caesalpiniaceae) :: Delonix regia from Dombivli:
Sending photo of the Gulmohar tree with flowers. This tree was planted by me 12 years ago and last May it flowered for the first time. I was wondering why it is not flowering and thought that it will not flower anytime. Then one fine morning I saw the flower buds on the tree and so happy that my efforts fruited at last.

I too share the same experience as you. I had planted 2 Gulmohar trees which did not flower for almost 7-8 years when all others around were flowering. I kept waiting and one fine day to my surprise I saw buds through my window and the joy was unforgettable. Thank you for reminding me of the joy I felt then

Gulmohar:
Sending photo of the Gulmohar tree with flowers. This tree was planted by me 12 years ago and last May it flowered for the first time. I was wondering why it is not flowering and thought that it will not flower anytime. Then one fine morning I saw the flower buds on the tree and so happy that my efforts fruited at last.

Nice picture …

Similar endeavors have been published by eflora members here
https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/user-driven-learning-environment-botany/49258

Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. :: Thane, Maharashtra :: May 6, 2007 · JUN23 DV553: 3 images.

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