Meaning
The flamboyant or 'flame tree' — a spreading ornamental tree that bursts into a blaze of brilliant red-orange flowers in early summer, a signature sight of the Jamaican landscape. Its fern-like leaves give feathery shade, and its long woody seed pods (used as 'shak-shak' rattles) hang from the branches. Loved for its colour and immortalised in the song 'Poinciana'.
Examples
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Di poinciana a bloom red all ova di hill.
The flame tree is blooming red all over the hillside.
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Pickney shake di poinciana pod like shak-shak.
Children shake the poinciana pods like rattles.
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Summer come when di poinciana flowa.
Summer comes when the flame tree flowers.
Origin
Named after M. de Poinci; the flamboyant (Delonix regia). See [[guango]], [[shak-shak]].
How it’s used
The red-flowering 'flame tree'/flamboyant; pods used as rattles. See [[guango]], [[shak-shak]].