Botanical Description
Flame Tree (Delonix regia), also known just as Flamboyant, is a large deciduous tree with bipinnate leaves, the leaflets are small relative to the leaf being only about 1.5 cm in length. It has large showy red to red-orange flowers borne on a corymbose inflorescence that reach up to 12 cm across in size. The fruit it develops is initially green but turns into a dehiscent woody black pod upon maturing revealing a smooth hard oblong-shaped glossy brown seed averaging at 2 cm in length.
Uses:
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The seeds are edible but have a high sodium to potassium ration thus eating too much increases the risk of heart disease in the long run.
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The leaves are used to treat diseases such as diabetes.
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The leaves and flowers are used to create a decoction for treating fever in Bangladesh.
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In Tamil Nadu the leaves are used to remedy problems such as constipation, arthritis, and paralysis.
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The tree exudes as a gummy exudate that can be used in making textiles and processing food.
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The wood is good enough to use for small-scale construction projects.