Brownea coccinea

Brownea coccinea

Synonyms

 Brownea capitella, Brownea latifolia

Common name

 Brownea, Scarlet Flame Bean

Origin

South America

Ecology

In open forests on sandy, well drained soils.

Description

Near Garden’s South or Roseau gate; reported in that location in the 1924 Official Guide; beautiful, slow-growing, short, spreading trees, 6-9 m tall (20-30 ft); leaves pinnately compound, leaflets up to 15 cm long (6 in) and up to 6 cm wide (2.3 in), up to 6 pairs, with sometimes one terminal leaflet, pink-brown and pendulous when young; flowers borne in large, bright, orange-red clusters, hanging mostly beneath

foliage primarily on older branches, which distinguishes it from other Browneas; fruit a woody pod about 15 cm long (6 in) and 5 cm broad (2 in)

Stipules present, leaf-like, dropped. Leaves alternate, paripinnate (even) compound, leaflets with gland at the base of midrib beneath. Young leaves in pendent, linear, stipular or bracteate sheath buds up to 20 cm long. Inflorescences short, compact, nodding, densely red flowered.

Uses

Grown as an ornamental.