Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Peacock flower is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading crown of 2 - 4 m wide. Usually without prickles, it can grow up to 5 meters tall. The slender trunk is usually straight and cylindrical and can be free of branches for 100cm or more.
BARK: green, turning grayish-brown as the stems become woodier, covered with spines, which swell at the base upon maturity.
LEAVES: small, bi-pinnate, pinnae 4-8 pairs, each with 7-11 pairs of elliptic, obtuse, obliquely in-equilateral light green leaflets about 2-2.5 cm long, oval leaflets.
FLOWERS: orange, yellow and red combination, scentless with long stamens and pistil. There is one modified petal which is smaller than the other 4 petals, flowers borne in terminal clusters.
FRUITS: oblong, smooth, brown to black, flat pod, thin, up to 10 cm long. Pods split to disperse the single row of flattened seeds.

Edible: young seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, flowers can be cooked.
Medicine: roots, bark, leaves, flowers, and seeds. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Caesalpinia+pulcherrima
An ink is made from the charred wood.
Agroforestry: often grown as a hedge.
The seeds (seedpods) are a source of tannins.
A yellow dye (when combined with alum) or black dye (when combined with iron) can be obtained.
The wood makes an excellent charcoal.

Peacock flower was originally from Tropical America, now pantropical. It occurs in Tropical dry to moist forests. It is widely grown throughout the tropics as an ornamental and as a hedge, being valued especially for its incredibly showy blossom. In Kampala, peacock flower is found along Mackenzie vale road, Yusuf Lule road, Upper Kololo terrace among other places.

Fast-growing. Very tolerant of pruning.