Copperpod, Yellow flame tree
Peltophorum pterocarpum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree that loses its leaves. It grows 15-25 m tall. The trunk is 1 m across. The leaves are 30-60 cm long and twice divided. There are 16-20 pinnae and each on has 20-40 oval leaflets. These are 5-25 mm long and 4-10 mm wide. The flowers are yellow and 3-4 cm across. They are in large compound groups 20 cm long. The fruit is a pod 5-10 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. It is red when young but turns black. It contains 4 seeds.

It is planted as an ornamental avenue tree.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows along beaches behind mangroves and in open lowland forests. It can be on limestone plateaus and grows up to 100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andaman Is., Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Congo DR., Dominican Republic, East Timor, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Leeward Is., Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Northeastern India, North America, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, bark

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Konda chinta, Lim set, Pachha sunkesula, Perunkonrai, Pohon jemerland laut, Radhachura, Reendho varey, Rusty shield bearer, Thunbaw-mezali

Synonyms

Caesalpinia arborea Miq.; Inga pterocarpa DC.; and several others