Gulmohur

Delonix regia

Beng: Krishnachura Hindi: Gulmohur

A familiar light crowed umbrella shaped exotic ornamental tree with twice feathered leaves that in April becomes a magnificent sight with profuse scarlet flowers. Trunk becomes buttressed with age.

Bark: Light brown, not rough (not even in old trees), often with undulating “crease” where large ranches fork

Leaf: Twice feathered, 2 feet long with very small numerous light green leaflets.

Flower: 5 petaled Scarlet (crimson in some trees) one petal is whitish with crimson and white plashes

Fruit: Almost 2 feet long flat pod

Season: Leaves starts becoming yellow by late winter and fall. By March the tree is almost totally bare. In early April flowering starts. New leaves appear soon thereafter. Flowering continues even during rains in much lesser profusion. Pod remains in the tree for long.

Range/habitat: Originally from Madagascar where it has all but vanished. So it doesn't have any natural distribution. Thrives in tropical coastal area all over the world.

Trivia and notes: Not wind hardy and quite risky as a roadside tree. The Bengali name “krishnachura” maybe of recent origin has no Bengali name was mentioned by Benthall in 1946. Incidentally, red flowered variety of pride of Barbados / peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) is also known as “Krishnachura” in Bengali.

Where to Find: There are quite a few trees. The ones on the bank of Anderson club lake are among the most mature trees.