Colvillea RACEMOSA

Colvillea RACEMOSA - Colville's glory, Whip tree.

Colvillea is a monotypic genus in the legume family (Fabaceae), containing only a single species. The plant is native to the dry deciduous forests of western and northern Madagascar, where it is increasingly rare and is classified among protected plants.

The tree is upright and very elegant, 8-15 m (26-49 ft) in height, with horizontally spreading branches and a canopy 3-5 m (10-16 ft) across. Its closest relative is royal poinciana (Delonix regia), the flame tree, and superficially they are very similar.

Leaves are bipinnate, up to 90 cm (35 in) long, composed of numerous small leaflets, giving the canopy an airy appearance. Flowers are scarlet or orange-red, about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) across, gathered in dense pendant racemes up to 30 cm (12 in) long. The fruit is a flat pod.

Colville's glory is a deciduous tree that sheds its foliage in the dry season. Flowering occurs in late summer and autumn, when the crown is already partially leafless, making it especially conspicuous.

The inflorescence is structured unusually for legumes: buds in the raceme open from bottom to top, so on a single cluster one simultaneously sees green buds, orange half-opened blooms, and scarlet fully opened flowers with a tuft of long yellow stamens. In indoor cultivation, the plant is extremely rare.

Colvillea seeds are large, with a very dense coat. Before sowing, scarification is mandatory: the coat is carefully filed on the side, well away from the embryo. Afterward, the seeds are soaked for 3-4 hours in warm water or in a solution of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon until noticeably swollen. Stratification is not required.

Sowing is carried out in a well-drained mixture of one part peat and half a part coarse sand or perlite, to a depth of about 1.5 cm (0.6 in). The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle, covered with a transparent lid or placed in a mini-greenhouse, and germinated in the light at a temperature of not below 24 °C (75 °F).

Sprouts emerge in 1-3 weeks; unswollen seeds may take longer. Sowings are ventilated daily and condensation is wiped away. Seedlings grow rapidly, so pricking out into individual deep pots is performed right after the first pair of true leaves expands.

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The plant requires the brightest possible illumination with direct sunlight. In summer, it is beneficial to keep it outdoors - on a balcony, terrace, or in the garden.

Warm conditions are needed, optimally 22-30 °C (72-86 °F) during the growth period. In winter, the temperature should not fall below 15 °C (59 °F). During dry spells, the tree may partially drop its leaves, which is normal.

Watering is regular during the active growing season, with the upper layer of substrate drying out between waterings. When temperatures drop and after leaf drop, watering is sharply reduced.

The substrate should be loose, sandy, and well-drained. A drainage layer is mandatory at the bottom of the pot, and the container itself should be spacious: Colvillea has a vigorous root system.

Feeding with a complete fertilizer containing reduced nitrogen is applied once every two to three weeks from spring until late summer.

Repotting is carried out annually in spring into a larger pot. If necessary, the crown is shaped by pruning at the onset of active growth.