Adenanthera pavonina

(Red Bean Tree)

Description

A spreading tree with yellowish or tan bark. Leaves are bipinnate, with many leaflets up to 5 cm long x 2.5 cm wide. Leaflets are alternate along the leaf rachises.

Flowers are small, about 10 mm across, with pale pink or white petals. Flowers are densely arranged in long racemes. Fruit are bean-like pods, which ripen to brown. When ripe, they split and curl back, revealing a golden yellow lining and shiny scarlet seeds, hence the common name.