Powder-puff tree facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Powder-puff tree
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Lecythidaceae
Genus:	Barringtonia
Species:	B. racemosa
Binomial name
Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng.
Synonyms
Barringtonia apiculata (Miers) R.Knuth [Illegitimate] Barringtonia caffra (Miers) E.Mey. ex R.Knuth Barringtonia caffra E. Mey. Barringtonia celebesensis R.Knuth Barringtonia ceramensis R.Knuth Barringtonia ceylanica (Miers) Gardner ex C.B.Clarke Barringtonia elongata Korth. Barringtonia excelsa A.Gray Barringtonia inclyta Miers ex B.D.Jacks. [Invalid] Barringtonia lageniformis Merr. & L.M.Perry Barringtonia longiracemosa C.T.White Barringtonia obtusangula (Blume) R.Knuth Barringtonia pallida (Miers) Koord. & Valeton Barringtonia racemosa Oliv. Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Blume ex DC. Barringtonia racemosa var. elongata (Korth.) Blume Barringtonia racemosa var. minor Blume Barringtonia racemosa var. procera Blume Barringtonia racemosa var. subcuneata Miq. Barringtonia rosaria Oken Barringtonia rosata (Sonn.) R.Knuth Barringtonia rumphiana (Miers) R.Knuth Barringtonia salomonensis Rech. Barringtonia stravadium Blanco Barringtonia terrestris (Miers) R.Knuth Barringtonia timorensis Blume Butonica alba (Pers.) Miers [Illegitimate] Butonica apiculata Miers Butonica caffra Miers Butonica ceylanica Miers Butonica inclyta Miers Butonica racemosa (L.) Juss. Butonica rosata (Sonn.) Miers Butonica rumphiana Miers Butonica terrestris Miers Caryophyllus racemosus (L.) Stokes Eugenia racemosa L. Huttum racemosum (L.) Britten Megadendron ambiguum Miers Megadendron pallidum Miers Menichea rosata Sonn. Michelia apiculata (Miers) Kuntze Michelia ceylanica (Miers) Kuntze Michelia racemosa (L.) Kuntze Michelia rosata (Sonn.) Kuntze Michelia timorensis (Blume) Kuntze Stravadium album Pers. [Illegitimate] Stravadium obtusangulum Blume Stravadium racemosum (L.) Sweet Stravadium rubrum DC. [Illegitimate]

The Barringtonia racemosa is a beautiful tree often called the powder-puff tree. It gets this name from its unique, fluffy flowers. In some places, it's known as pooeierkwasboom (Afrikaans), Iboqo (Zulu), or Putat (Malay). This tree belongs to the Lecythidaceae family.

About the Powder-Puff Tree

The powder-puff tree grows in warm, coastal areas. You can find it in swampy forests and along the edges of estuaries, which are places where rivers meet the sea.

Where the Tree Grows

This amazing tree is found across a huge part of the world! Its home range starts on the east coast of Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. From there, it spreads to Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Maldives, Thailand, Laos, southern China, northern Australia, coastal Taiwan, the Ryūkyū Islands, and many Polynesian islands.

Traditional Uses

In 1889, a book called 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia’ mentioned this tree. It recorded that the Indigenous people of the Mitchell River District in Australia called it "Yakooro". They used parts of the tree, like its root, in traditional practices.

A Protected Species

The powder-puff tree is very important in some areas. In South Africa, it is considered a protected tree. This means there are special rules to help keep these trees safe and healthy.

Gallery

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  Flowers and foliage

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  New leaves

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  Fruit

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  Young leaves

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  Roots in stream bank

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  Inflorescence

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  Leaves in winter

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  Plant in winter