Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. | |
Fabaceae | |
Red Powder Puff | |
| Botanical Name | Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. |
| Synonyms | Anneslia haematocephala (Hassk.) Britton & P. Wilson;Calliandra inaequilatera Rusby; Feuileea haematocephala Kuntze |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Common Name | English : Red Powder Puff / Tamil : -- |
| Distribution | Global : Native to Bolivia. Ornamental in tropical and subtropical countries
Indian: Throughout India. |
| Description | : Deciduous small tree grows up to 3-5m height, bark dark brown or black and rough. Leaves pinnately compound stipulate, stipules ovate-lanceolate, persistent, petiolate, leaf lets 7-9 pairs, obliquely lanceolate, covered with soft hairs along margin, tip mucronate. Inflorescence axillary head. Flowers pentamerous, actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous, complete, calyx campanulate, five lobed, corolla purplish with five lobes, tubular. Stamens numerous, staminal tube white long 6cm, filaments long deep red, anther minute. Ovary monocarpellary, style long, stigma capitate. Fruit pod, linear-oblanceolate, seeds 5-6, brown. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | August - September /October - November |
| Uses | Ornamental and fodder plant. Planted for soil reclamation and used as additional material for composting. |
| Medicinal Uses | Plant used to get relief from haemorrhoids, reduce inflammation and elimination of seizures. |
| Tamil Name | Red Powder Puff |