White gold mohur
Delonix elata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 4-15 m high. It has a spreading arching habit. The bark is shiny and smooth and can be flaky. The young leaves are soft grey-green. The leaves are twice divided and feather like. There are 2-12 pairs of leaflets. They are oval and less than 1 cm long. The flowers are 20 cm across. They are white to pale orange. They have 4 wavy white petals and one smaller white petal. The stamens are long and orange-brown. Only one flower in a group opens at a time. The fruit are thin, red-brown pods. They taper at both ends. The pods are 20 cm long and remain on the tree.

There are 11 Delonix species. They are mostly in Madagascar. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

They are tropical. It grows in the dry thorn bush savannah. It grows between 100-1,000 m altitude in East Africa. It grows in hot arid places. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andaman Is., Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Central Africa, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa (country/location of origin), Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indochina, Kenya, Maldives, Middle East, Myanmar, Namibia, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen

How it is used for food

The young leaves are occasionally eaten as relish. They have a spicy taste. The seeds are boiled and eaten during famine.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. It is often used as a live fence or hedge.

The leaves are collected at the beginning of the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Aaredesu, Amaito, Arange, Ekurinchanait, Ghui, Ichoro, Kempukenjiga, Lebi, Mashilah, Mfausiku, Misisiviri, Mlele, Monterere, Msele, Mterera, Muangi, Mwangi, Ol-derkesi, Ririron, Sankasura, Sankesula, Sukela, Sukella, Sukeellaa, Vaadha narayana maram, Vadanarayana, Vatanarayana

Synonyms

Caesalpinia elata (L. ) Sw.; Poincinia elata Linn.; Poinciana playfairii T. Anderson;