Angel's hair, Red calliandra tree
Calliandra houstoniana var. calothyrsus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 12 m tall. The trunk has red or grey bark. It is covered with small pale oval spots. The leaves are twice divided with 15-20 pairs of pinnae. The flowers are pink. The fruit is a pod 8-11 cm long. There are 3-15 seeds.

There are about 200 Calliandra species. Also in Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Belize, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, East Africa, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Suriname, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: It is probably only eaten by livestock, rabbits and poultry. It is high in tannin. It is a good honey producing tree.

Edible parts

Honey, probably only livestock

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings. It can be used as a good legume mulch for maize and other crops.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon kaliandra merah

Synonyms

Anneslia calothyrsa (Meisn.) Kleinhoonte; Anneslia confusa (Sprague & Riley) Britton & Rose; Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner; Calliandra confusa Sprague & Riley; Calliandra similis Sprague & L. Riley; Feuilleea calothyrsa (Meisn.) Kuntze;