Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex K.Heyne
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Authority
Isley, Duane. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (2): 1-228.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Rusty-puberulent tree to 20 m. Leaves large; leafstalk 2-4 dm, finely rusty tomentulose, rarely also glandular-pubescent; pinnae 7-15 pairs, the medial longest and with most numerous leaflets; leaflets 8-20 pairs, sessile, asymmetrically elliptic-oblong with eccentric midvein, rounded or emarginate atapex 1-1.7(-2) cm, 2-3 r, pale and with evident venation beneath. Flowers in terminal, ascending compound racemes to 2 dm; buds spheroid, rusty; bracts evident only in early bud, less than 1 cm. Pedicels short .4-1 (-1.5) cm; sepals 6-8 mm, recurved at anthesis; corolla yellow, 3-4 cm diam, with short-clawed, obovate, proximally pubescent petals with frilled margins; longer stamens subequal to petals; pistil pilose. Legume indehiscent, persistent, samaroid, elliptic, half-ovate to asymmetric-oblong, flat, 5-10 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide; valves punctate, longitudinally striate, reddish-brown, becoming coriaceous to woody and black, at length irregularly splitting lengthwise through middle of valve; wings to 5 mm wide. Seeds 2-3.
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Discussion
P. inerme (Roxb.) Naves ex Villar (1880) CN 2n = 28 (Atchison, 1951; as P. inerme). This highly attractive Peltophorum is common in the Miami area and Menninger (1958) creates and quotes purple prose concerning its wonders. Three specimens have glandular pubescence on leaf rachis typical of P. dubium but leaflets are as P. pterocarpum except that those of one are unusually small. It is possible these are horticultural intermediates.
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Distribution
Peninsular Florida. Cult, ornamental, and slightly established. June-Oct. Yellow Poinciana, Yellow Flamboyant. Tropical Asia, widely introduced in the tropics.
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