Hello, I am Gulmohar

I was first “discovered” (it’s funny how humans think things didn’t exist before they came across them!) by Czech botanist Wenzel Bojer in early 1820s and brought to Mauritius from Madagascar.  Initially, my country of origin was unknown. Finally, in 1932, a natural colony of my habitat was discovered on the west coast of Madagascar by Jacques Leandri, a French biologist.  Since then, my native origin is considered to be Madagascar. Over time, I spread across Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and large parts of Asia. In India, I found my first home in Sewri, in the suburbs of South Bombay during the 1840s.

​

The arrival of summer in Delhi is marked by streets lined with my flaming red canopies. In central Delhi, there is a park and a locality named after me - Gulmohar Park. Although I am endangered in the wild, I am widely cultivated and have been naturalized in many locations where I am grown. I am primarily used as an ornamental tree around the world.

​

I also have a significant international fan following.

​

My flowers are the national flower of St. Kitts and Nevis, which are island countries in the West Indies. The town of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, is nicknamed ‘El Valle de los Flamboyanes’, or 'The Valley of the Poinciana Trees', due to my abundance around the surrounding rivers. I am featured in many paintings in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.  In Vietnam, my flowering season lasts from May to July, which coincides with the end of the school year. Because of this timing, I am often referred to as the "pupil's flower".

​

In earlier times, my wood was utilized for making bullock carts. I possess an impressive range of medicinal and biological properties and have been used in Ayurveda for the treatment of conditions such as constipation, inflammation, arthritis, hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of body), leucorrhea, and rheumatism. I am also used to treat bacterial infections and diabetes.

​

Over time, I have integrated well with local customs, culture, traditions, and folklore all over the world.

​

In Kerala, I am known as kaalvarippoo. There’s an interesting story behind this name.  The name comes from the word ‘Calvary’ and means ‘the flower of Calvary’.  There is a belief that Jesus Christ was crucified on Mount Calvary (a site at Golgotha – a skull shaped hill in ancient Jerusalem), and I was next to his cross.  When his blood was shed over my flowers, they got their flame-coloured petals.

​

I am a medium-sized tree that grows up to about 30-40 feet. In India, my new leaves start appearing in March, while flowers come in April at the onset of summers; I remain bare during the winter.

​

I am also called Krishnachud (कृष्ण चूड) which means ‘Crown of Lord Krishna’ – perhaps a reference to the likeness of my flowers to peacock feathers that Lord Krishna always wore on his crown.

​

Funfact:  There exists a Radhachud tree too!  Also called Gulmohari – the feminine counter-part of my name.  The tree is Caesalpinia pulcherrima, it bears similar flowers as me, except that they are yellow in colour instead of red.

​

To end my story, I am sharing with you, as promised, a stanza from the poem that George E. Merrick wrote about me in 1920:

​

“The Royal Poinciana in Bloom”

​

Scarlet bloom of deepest dye,
That with the summer sunset vie
In flashful boast, thy thick-massed flame
Lo! Thou hast put its wealth to shame:
For all out-done, the tropic sun
Recalls his tint-skilled fays of fire,
Glowing rich in envy as they fly.