Discovered in the early 19th century in its native Madagascar by botanist
Wensel Bojer,
Gulmohar is a flamboyant tree in flower - some say the world's most colorful
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. The delicate,
fern-like leaves are composed of small individual leaflets, which fold up at
the onset of dusk. 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.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in Delhi.
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The flower labeled Gulmohar is ...