PlantFiles: Rose of Venezuela, Rose of the Jungle
Brownea grandiceps

A very nice plant with or without flowers. It can covers a large area, nice for shades and even more beautiful when in flower. Suits rather in large or in botanical gardens . There are quite some of it in Pamplemousses botanical garden. Seems to grow better near streams or ponds. And yes, it is indeed a very nice flower.The seeds developes in a big flat pod, like a large flat bean and is deep brown in colour with tiny hair covered all over. Brown and hairy pods is not irritant. Seedpod could contain 1 to 3 or sometimes 4 seeds . Seeds are oval to roundish , half a cm in thickness and about 4 cms large and grey in colour.It takes about 6-8 months for this plant to have seeds ; from flowering stage,fruiting , dried pods to viable seeds.

I donīt know much about this tree, but Iīd like to. Itīs a beautiful short tree which branches can cover a huge area. Great for shade, of course, but if you are too tall, you may need to bend down to get under the thick foliage.

It has bright green leaves that turns darker as they get older. The inflorescences have red bracts (I donīt remember any other Leguminosae with colored and atractive bracts...). They are pendulous, short, and bear many bell shaped, red flowers that atract bees. Lots of bees.

It seems to like constantly moist, fertile soil, full sun, perharps some shade, and high temperatures.