Erythrostemon gilliesii (Hook.) Klotzsch

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree 1–3(5) m high.

Morphology General Glands

Young stems and inflorescences pubescent and fairly densely covered with stipitate, peltate, usually blackish or brown glands, without prickles.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: petiole and rachis together 8–20 cm, glabrous, occasionally with a few glands; pinnae 7–15 on each side of the rachis, opposite, subopposite or alternate, and often with a solitary terminal pinna; pinna rachis 1–4 cm; leaflets 7–10(12) per pinna, 2–8(11) × 1–2.5(3.5) mm, oblong-elliptic, glabrous, usually with black gland dots just inside the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 6–16(24) cm long, all terminal; bracts up to 28 × 8 mm, lanceolate to oblanceolate, ± pectinate, conspicuous and concealing the young buds but falling before anthesis; pedicels 1.5–3.5 cm, with stipitate glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Lateral sepals 13–21 mm long; all sepals pubescent and usually with numerous stipitate glands, the lower one usually pectinate or erose at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals (17)23–32 mm long, yellow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5–10.5 cm long, much exceeding the petals, the filaments bright red.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary tomentose and with shortly stipitate glands; style somewhat exceeding the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 6–10 × 1.7–2.1 cm, ± obliquely oblong, straight or somewhat curved upwards, compressed, light brown, pubescent and usually conspicuously spotted with dark glands when young but glabrescent and smooth later, dehiscing down both margins; seeds 5–8, c.9 × 7 × 2.5 mm, ± broadly obovate, compressed, brown flecked with purplish-black.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Ornamental unarmed shrub or small tree

Morphology Leaves

Pinnae 8–15 pairs; leaflets 6–10 pairs per pinna, narrowly oblong, 4–10 x 1.25–2.5 mm, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in pubescent and glandular racemes, with pale yellow broadly spathulate petals 25–30 mm long; filaments scarlet, 8–12 cm long.

Distribution

Cultivated at least in N1 native of South America.

Vernacular

Bird of paradise (English).

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Cultivated

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Barba De Chivo, Bird Of Paradise, Caesalpinia, Caesalpinie, Disciplina De Monja, Espiga De Amor, Flamboyan, Lagana De Perro, Mal De Ojos, Mal De Perro, Piscala, Poinciana, Sapantrad, Tzezalpiniya Dzhillisa

Use

Environmental