Deciduous tree, young branches tomentose. Leaf pinnately trifoliolate. petiole 10-22.5 cm long, terminal leaflet 12.5-20 cm long, 11-17.5 cm broad. broadly ovate, obtuse or retuse, glabrescent; lateral leaflet obliquely ovate, obtuse. slightly smaller than the terminal, glabrescent; petiolules 5-7.5 mm long, stipels small; stipules small, deciduous. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme. 10-17.5 cm long, flowers fascicled at the nodes. Bracts and bracteoles small, velvety. Pedicel 1.2-2.5 cm long, velvety. Calyx c. 1.2 cm long, velvety within and without, teeth deltoid, the upper 2 teeth united. Corolla bright red, tinged with orange, silky pubescent outside. Vexillum 3.7-5.0 cm long. Fruit 10-20 cm long, 2.5-5.0 cm broad, silky, 1 seed at the apex, stalk 1.2-1.8 cm long.

Fl.Per.: March-April.

Type: Malabar, Herb-Lamarck (P-not seen).

Distribution: Pakistan (Rawalpindi); cultivated as an ornamental tree; widely distributed in India; Ceylon.

‘Flame of the Forest’ is cultivated as an ornamental tree. The gum is used medicinally. It is one of the most important hosts for the lac insect. The leaves are much used for plates as wrappers and as fodder for buffaloes.