The red acacia is a tree very beautiful due to the color of its flowers. It is interesting to know more about the red acacia. For this reason, if you want to know more, keep reading to learn about its characteristics, as well as different uses.
Due to its beauty, it is a valued tree for ornamental use in gardens and parks. For this reason, we will see which are the places or regions where they can be found most frequently.
Characteristics of the red acacia
The red acacia gets its name precisely from the color of the plant’s flowers. In addition, it must be taken into account that it is a tree that can measure up to eight meters in height. However, sometimes it can reach twelve meters.
As for its foliage, it is dense and also extensive. Depending on the region where you are, you can lose your leaves if you are in regions with very extreme arid climates. However, if the conditions are not so difficult, the leaves are kept throughout the year.
On the other hand, it must be taken into account that the red acacia is a medicinal plant. Thus, in certain parts of the world, such as Mexico, the bark of the tree is used as a treatment for inflammation of the joints and in cases of rheumatism.
Also, it is used to treat problems related to coughing, as well as bronchial asthma among others.
Scientific name of the red acacia
He scientific name of the red acacia It is Delonix regia. The red acacia belongs to the fabaceae family, just like the acacia seyal or the acacia longifolia. However, it belongs to a very different subfamily: the caesalpinioideae; and to another tribe different from the two mentioned above: caesalpinieae.
This is the classification that botanists make of the red acacia. However, as we have already seen, the scientific name of the red acacia is delonix regia. So both names can be used, although this also depends on the context in which it will be used.
On the other hand, it is also interesting to know the etymological origin of the red acacia. For this reason, let’s see where its scientific name comes from and what it means. In this way, we will discover why the red acacia receives the name delonix regia.
Well, the two words that make up the scientific name of the red acacia come from two different languages: Greek and Latin. In the case of the word Delonix, this in turn is a word in Greek that is compound; The first word is délos, which means evident, certain; the second is onyx, whose meaning is claw. Thus, this word then means evident claws; this expression refers to the petals of the flower that the plant produces.
In the case of the word Regia, this is of Latin origin, and means royal. This word denotes majesty; and it is so in the case of the red acacia. However, it has other names similar to its scientific name; some of them are Poinciana Regia Hook and Poinciana regia Bojer. In both cases, they are scientists who also studied and made important discoveries about this plant.
red acacia flower
The flower, or rather red acacia flowers They are large flowers, consisting of four petals per flower. Each petal can measure up to about eight centimeters long. It also has a fifth petal, which is the longest and also has a color between yellow and white.
On the other hand, there is a variety of this acacia, called acacia flavida whose flowers, instead of being red, are yellow. In this way, several species of Delonix regia can be recognized using its scientific name, Delonix regia.
red acacia seeds
The seeds are packed, so to speak, in pods that, when ripe, are dark brown in color. They are about two feet long and two inches wide.
In the case of the seeds, their weight is about four milligrams each. This means that they are small. Moreover, the leaves are thirty to forty centimeters long. Its leaves are pinnate. Therefore, it has different parts of leaflets on each leaf; these also go in pairs.
On the other hand, the red acacia is a species of acacias that originates from Madagascar. However, this species has spread to other parts of the world. However, in its place of origin it is disappearing, since it is in endangered red acacia.
