Barringtonia racemosa
The Powder-puff tree is a legendary wetland plant in Taiwan. This plant, which is nearly extinct in the wild in Taiwan, is only found in Yilan area and the Hengchun Peninsula, with the 52-jia Wetland at the mouth of the Dongshan River in Yilan being its largest native habitat. In the past, the indigenous Kavalan people would plant it along the edges of fields to mark boundaries and prevent the edges from being moved. They also planted it alongside irrigation ditches as a protective plant to prevent the walls of the ditches from collapsing due to water erosion. Since the widespread appearance of concrete embankments, this plant has been removed during construction, and wild populations have gradually decreased because the concrete embankments make it difficult for seeds to germinate and for plants to grow. In recent years, the plant has gained attention and been restored due to its flowers blooming in clusters during summer nights, resembling brilliant fireworks, making it an important landscape plant for waterfront gardens.
The inflorescences of the powder-puff tree are elongated, resembling bottle brushes from a distance, with a fluffy, long string. However, upon closer inspection, you can see that the structure is more intricate than that of a bottle brush. Each flower of the powder-puff tree features prominent stamens that are more noticeable than the petals, with numerous long red stamens that have white or yellow tips, all extending outward, giving the entire flower an elegant color ranging from light pink to peach. This makes it highly ornamental. In addition to its delicate beauty, the flower also emits a unique fragrance that is rich but not overwhelming, invigorating those who smell it on summer nights. It also attracts nocturnal animals, primarily insects, to visit the flowers, bringing more romance to the dark night.