Delonix


Delonix is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains trees that are native to Madagascar and East Africa. By far the best known species is the Royal Poinciana.
The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words δηλος, meaning "evident," and ονυξ, meaning "claw," referring to the petals. The common name, poinciana, comes from a former genus of the same name in which the members of the current genus Delonix were classified along with plants now placed in the genus Caesalpinia.

Species

12 species are accepted:
ImageScientific nameDistribution
Delonix baccal Baker f.Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia
Delonix boiviniana CapuronMadagascar
Delonix brachycarpa CapuronMadagascar
Delonix decaryi CapuronMadagascar
Delonix edulis Babineau & BruneauMadagascar
Delonix elata GambleEast Africa, southern Arabia east to western India
Delonix floribunda CapuronMadagascar
Delonix leucantha Du Puy, Phillipson & R.Rabev.Madagascar
Delonix pumila Du Puy, Phillipson & R.Rabev.Madagascar
Delonix regia Raf.Madagascar
Delonix tomentosa CapuronMadagascar
Delonix velutina CapuronMadagascar

Use

These plants release brown resin lumps that can be dissolved to make glue, or sucked as edible sweets among the Malagasy. Their seeds too are roasted and eaten as a snack in the south.