Bird Of Paradise Shrub

It is a beautiful ornamental shrub.

Erect, shrub, reaching a height of nearly 2 m., young branches covered with small stipitate glands. Stipules deltoid, 3 mm long. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, upto 30 cm long. Pinnae 6-10 pairs, 2-4 cm long, leaflets 6-10 pairs per pinna, 5-7 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm broad, with a row of black glands along margins on lower surface. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, flower c. 5 cm across, yellow. Filaments red in colour, glabrous, hairy at the base, 7-13 cm long. Pod 6-9 cm long, falcate and leathery.

Distribution: Native of South America; introduced widely in tropical and sub-tropical regions; in W. Pakistan cultivated in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Quetta.

Fl. Per.: Almost throughout the year, at least in Karachi.