Common Names: Poomaram, Gulmohar, Royal poinciana, Flame tree
Flowering Period: February – July
Description
Gulmohar is a flamboyant tree in flower – some say the world’s most colourful tree. For several weeks in spring and summer it is covered with exuberant clusters of flame-red flowers, 4-5 in across.
Even up close the individual flowers are striking; they have four spoon shaped spreading scarlet or orange-red petals about 3 in long, and one upright slightly larger petal (the standard) which is marked with yellow and white.
Gulmohar gets 30-40 ft tall, but its elegant wide-spreading umbrella-like canopy can be wider than its height.
Gumohar is naturalized in India and is widely cultivated as a street tree.
Uses
It is used as an ornamental plant.
A leaf decoction presumably has anti-rheumatic effects.
In eastern Nigeria the leaves are used traditionally for treating pain.