Poinciana pulcherrima L. (Fathanguma)
The National Flower of Barbados is the “Pride of Barbados” (Dwarf Poinciana
or Flower Fence). It is a shrub and is often pruned into a low hedge. The
Pride of Barbados blooms all year round, the more common varieties are a
fiery red and yellow "sunset colour" although other variations can be found.
The flower has five petals with a yellow margin in a pyramidal
inflorescence. Each flower is about 1˝ inches across with five sepals. The
ten stamens are long and the pistils project from the centre of the flower.
The fifth petal is far smaller than the other four.The stamens have coloured
filaments with anthers at the tips however, the eleventh filament bears a
stigma and is the style. The branches ,a prickly and the leaves are large
and doubly compound about one foot long and six inches wide with many small
leaflets. The National Flower is accepted as the red variety with the Yellow
Margin on the petals.