POWDER-PUFF
| Name in Malayalam | : | പൗഡർ പഫ് |
| Name in Hindi | : | पौडर पफ |
| Botanical Name | : | Calliandra |
| Medicinal part | : | Leaves, Fruit |
| Medicinal properties | : | Used in the treatment of hemorrhoids |
Description
Powder-puff is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, in the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains about 140 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. The genus comprises herbaceous perennial plants, Shrubs, and rarely small trees, growing 0.5–6 m tall, with bipinnate leaves. The flowers are produced in cylindrical or globose inflorescences and have numerous long slender stamens which give rise to the common names powder puff plant, and fairy duster. These plants flower all year round, but the best blooming is in spring and summer. They can be easily pruned.Characteristics:
Rambling shrub or small tree with branched pinnate, silky leaves and powder-puff-like balls of conspicuous dark crimson stamens. Calliandra haematocephala is a fast growing shrub that can grow tall but also spreads wide. If desired it can be kept smaller by trimmed. Interesting enough the leaves close at night. The red powder puff flower are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds but only appear from November -April. The buds before the flowers open look like raspberries. This large shrub can be grown indoor if trimmed and grown in a pot but it will be best if you can grow it outside in a warm climate.
