Brazilian firetree (Pokok menara)

Schizolobium parahyba

Description

The Brazilian firetree (or Brazilian fern tree) is a deciduous tree, up to 35 m. It is referred as “Gulmohar” or “Krishna Chura” in Hindi. It is notable for its fast growth and its distinctive fern tree-like crown. It has large pinnately-compound leaves, up to 1 m in length, said to be the largest compound leaves in plant kingdom. Flowers are bright yellow and bloom all together making the tree turning fully yellow at once.

Place of origin

Tropical America 

Ethnobotanical uses

The leaf extract is used as antidote to snake venom. It is used to decrease the severity of toxic signs inhibiting proteolytic and hemorrhagic activities, thus increasing survival time and neutralizing myotoxicity effects. The seeds are made into buttons and beads in South America

IUCN conservation status

Least Concern (LC)