Poitea carinalis

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Poitea carinalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Poitea
Species:
P. carinalis
Binomial name
Poitea carinalis
(Griseb.) Lavin
Synonyms[1]
  • Sabinea carinalis Griseb.

Poitea carinalis (also known as Carib wood or bwa kwaib[2]) is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae that is endemic to Dominica, where it is the national flower.[1][3]

Description

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It is a small deciduous tree or dry shrub and when in flower, usually February–April (occasionally up to June, depending on dry season rains), an individual P. carinalis can be seen from a mile away as the entire tree turns brilliant red, the flowers have the typical pea form with a long keel.

The flowers appear just before the new leaves unfurl and attract an abundance of pollinators (such as insects, hummingbirds and bananaquits), but last for only a short time. Out of flower, it has 6-8 pairs of leaflets and a flattened pod.[4]

Scattered individuals occur throughout the dry shrub and are occasionally planted elsewhere and since it has been adopted as the national flower of Dominica, people are now encouraged to plant it more widely.

References

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  4. ^ Dominica, Nature Island of the Caribbean Illustrated Flora, Andrew J. Lack, Caroline Whitefoord, Peter G. H. Evans and Arlington James, illustrations by Helen Greenop. Published by Ministry of Tourism, Government Headquarters, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, 1997. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
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