Most of you with a Northern Hemisphere predisposition have put up your Christmas tree, a conifer of some sort or maybe a synthetic tree. It is snowing outside and your Christmas tree twinkles festively. Here, in Tanzania ‘tis the season’ of Christmas trees too, but of a bit different type. Two trees in particular are worthy of mention.
First the Christmas tree (
Delonix regia). This tree is in the legume or pea family (Fabaceae) and is native to Madagascar. It is also called the flambouyant tree, flame tree or poinsettia tree (though it is not at all related to poinsettias). It produces a spectacular array of red and yellow flowers and eventually long pods. It has been cultivated around the world and blooms at different times of the year depending on where it is found. Here though it blooms just before Christmas, and is a fitting salute to the holiday.
Second is the jacaranda tree
(Jacaranda mimosifolia) in the Trumpet Creeper Family (Bignoniaceae) which produces spectacular lilac-blue flowers and small round pods. Jacaranda is native to South America but like the Christmas tree is planted around the world because of it’s magnificent display of flowers.
Spectacular, stunning and magnificent are all apt words to describe these two trees. Equally impressive is how long these trees are in bloom. Jacarandas have been in bloom since October and Christmas trees since November a striking contrast to the crab apples of North America which are stunning but short-lived. I have poinsettia bushes in my yard that have been in bloom since I arrived in Tanzania September 2009!
So I offer this blog post to those of you who are tired of the white landscape… enjoy these “Christmas Trees” Wishing you the best this holiday season.
