Caesalpinia

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Caesalpinia
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Caesalpinia
L.
Species

See text.

Caesalpinia; sometimes called "Bird of Paradise" or "Mexican Bird of Paradise".
Caesalpinia; sometimes called "Bird of Paradise" or "Mexican Bird of Paradise".

Caesalpinia is the name of a genus of controversial size (different publications including between 70 and 165 species, mostly depending on inclusion or exclusion of various genera such as Hoffmanseggia), consisting of tropical and subtropical woody plants. It is named after the botanist Andrea Cesalpino.

The name Caesalpiniaceae at family level, or Caesalpinioideae at the level of subfamily, is based on this generic name.

Some species are grown for their ornamental flowers, and C. echinata, Brazilwood, is the source of a historically important dye called brazilin and of the wood for violin bows.

Selected species
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