Poinciana

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pride of Barbados
• Barbados flower-fence
• Barbados-pride
• dwarf poinciana
• flower-fence
• paradise-flower
• pride-of-Barbados
• Mexican Bird of Paradise
• Peacock Flower
• Red Bird of Paradise
• and flamboyan-de-jardin.

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Poinciana pulcherrima f. flava
• Caesalpinia pulcherrima f. flava
• Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. insignis
• Caesalpinia hispida
• Poinciana hispida
• Poinciana alata
• Radackia amicorum
• Poinciana pulcherrima
• Poinciana pulcherrima var. flava

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Fabales, it is specifically situated in the Fabaceae family. Its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Caesalpinia, within which the species Caesalpinia pulcherrimna is categorized.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several key regions. In Northern Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Egypt. Its range extends to the Macaronesian islands, specifically including Cape Verde. Furthermore, the species is well-established throughout West Tropical Africa. This widespread presence is evidenced by its occurrence in Gambia, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Caesalpinia pulcherrimma is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1700 m AMSL. On average, the species is found at a mean elevation of 375 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for lowland to mid-elevation environments. Regarding its preferred living conditions, the species is frequently documented within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating a high capacity for colonization and survival in landscapes modified by human activity.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

375 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Caesalpinia pulcherrimima is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it is classified as a phanerophyte, a life form defined by having its perennating buds located well above the ground on woody stems. In terms of its foliage and seasonal physiological adaptations, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its greenery throughout much of its cycle. As a phanerophyte, its structural development supports a long-term presence in its ecosystem, utilizing its elevated bud placement to survive varying environmental conditions over its extended lifespan.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Caesalpinia pulcherrimas is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant is a terrestrial species that functions independently, showing no parasitic tendencies. In terms of its physical stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not act as a vine or liana, nor does it exhibit epiphytic behavior. The height of the plant varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Caesalpinia pulcherrimima is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation process and energy production through the standard Calvin cycle. Unlike many desert-dwelling species, this plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue morphology rather than specialized water-storing structures. Furthermore, it functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria within its root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, thereby enhancing its ability to thrive in nutrient-poor soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Caesalpinia pulcherrimat is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical dimensions, with a mean seed length of 9.4 mm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of exactly 9.4 mm) and a uniform seed volume of 200 mm³. Each seed possesses a consistent mass of 0.18182 g, reflecting a lack of variance in these specific morphological traits. The plant produces fruit that is categorized by its dryness. Regarding the movement of offspring, the species demonstrates a diverse and complex dispersal syndrome; while it is primarily identified as anthropochorous, its reproductive strategy encompasses a wide array of mechanisms including anemochorous, autochorous, endozoochorous, epizoochorous, hydrochorous, myrmecochorous, unspecialized, and zoochorous modes.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed length mean:

9.4 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.18182 g

Seed volume max:

200 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Caesalpinia pulcherrima has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Parasitology research
2. Journal of natural products
3. Journal of natural medicines

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Seed

1. Heliyon

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Caesalpinia pulcherrima has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pulcherralpin, bonducellin, 2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone, 3',7-Dimethoxy-3-hydroxyflavone, 6-Methoxypulcherrimin.

Pulcherralpin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

bonducellin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone

1. Dr. Duke

3',7-Dimethoxy-3-hydroxyflavone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

6-Methoxypulcherrimin

1. Dr. Duke

8-Methoxybonducellin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Benzyl 2,6-dimethoxybenzoate

1. Journal of natural products

Dehydrovariabilin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dihydrobonducellin

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Caesalpinia pulcherrima has 296 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Caesalpinia pulcherrima has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, bacterial infections, cancer stem cells, colon cancer, gastric cancer.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Parasitology research

Bacterial infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer stem cells

1. PloS one

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Gastric cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Hepatitis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. PloS one

Influenza

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Caesalpinia pulcherrima has 15 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Petroleum ether, air-dried leaves, cell suspension cultures, chloroform, chloroform extract.

Petroleum ether

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Air-dried leaves

1. Journal of natural products

Cell suspension cultures

1. Phytochemistry

Chloroform

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Chloroform extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of natural medicines

Methanol extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Methanolic extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS