bird-of-paradise shrub Fabaceae Caesalpinia gilliesii

Leaf:Alternate, evergreen or deciduous, feathery bipinnately compound, to 6 inches long, leaflets oval and 1/4 inch long, yellow- or blue-green above and light green below.
Flower:Species is monoecious; very showy upright 6 inch terminal panicles, lower flowers opening first; individual flowers 1 1/2 inch wide with 5 yellow petals and very long red anthers, appearing mid-summer.
Fruit:A flattened bean-like pod, green to red and covered in glandular hairs, 2 1/2 inches long, popping open and curling at maturity.
Twig:Slender, green and smooth; glandular hairs present at tips; buds beige and wedge-shaped.
Bark:Green- to red-brown and mostly smooth.
Form:A shrub to 10 feet, usually multi-stemmed and widely spreading.

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