Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw. | |
Fabaceae | |
Mayir-Konrai | |
| Botanical Name | Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw. |
| Synonyms | Poinciana pulcheriima L.; Poinciana elata Lour. |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Common Name | English : Peacock flower / Tamil : Mayir-Konrai |
| Distribution | Global : Native to South Mexico. Ornamental in tropical and subtropical
countries
Indian: Throughout India. |
| Description | Scandent semievergreen shrub grows up to 3m height, bark dark grey. Leaves pinnately compound, rachis long, prickle present, pinna stalked, stipules scale like, leaflets opposite, laminae oblong - ovate, apex obtuse, entire. Inflorescence panicled raceme. Flowers pentamerous, bright yellow, bisexual, complete and hypogynous, calyx sepals 5, greenish, glabrous, corolla 5 petals, yellow to reddish orange, clawed. Stamens 10, filament unequal in length, anther small versatile. Ovary monocarpellary, monolocular, style long, stigma capitate. Fruit pod, seed small 3-6. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | April - December. |
| Uses | Ornamental plant in garden. Wood is excellent charcoal. |
| Medicinal Uses | Root and plant decoction used as purgative and emmenagogue. Entire plant used in the treatment of stomach, urinary bladder, gall badder and kidney problems. |
| Tamil Name | Mayir-Konrai |