Poinciana, << `poyn` see AN uh, >> is the name of several species of tropical flowering trees. The most important species, the royal poinciana, is native to Madagascar but has been widely planted in warm climates because of its immense clusters of brilliant flowers. Each flower is from 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 centimeters) across, with 5 widely spreading red petals. One of these petals is streaked and dotted with yellow. The tree produces purplish-brown seed pods that may be more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) long. The pods contain hard, oblong beans. In some countries, people burn the pods as fuel.
The royal poinciana has lacy, fernlike leaves, divided into many leaflets. The strong, gnarled trunk with its spreading branches may grow 40 feet (12 meters) high.
An unrelated species, the dwarf poinciana, is a shrub native to tropical America. The shrub has fernlike leaves and clusters of reddish-yellow blossoms that grow at the ends of long, slender stalks.
