It is a fast-growing deciduous hard woody tree, which is dicotyledonous and angiosperm. It is medium-sized, with an umbrella-shaped crown and drooping branches. It can grow up to 6-12m tall, a native plant of Madagascar, but also grows well in Hong Kong.
Its leaves are alternate, compound (evenly bipinnate) and about 20-60cm long, with 10-20 pairs of pinnae leaflets each. Leaflets are oblong, apex rounded, slightly notched, base obtuse, unequal, margin entire, and a size of 12 x 0.5cm.
It blooms in early summer with lots of red flowers (10cm across) growing in clusters, somewhat irregular and bisexual. Usually, it does not flower until 8 years old.
Its fruits are pods, about 60x8cm in size. It is hard and woody,
dark brown in colour. They are very conspicuous in winter when leaves are
shed.
