Royal Poinciana in the Insectarium

Visitors entering the large greenhouse at Insectarium in Tama Zoo are immediately captivated by the butterflies fluttering about before their eyes.
Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because its sheer size makes it blend into the scenery, it often goes unnoticed, but a very large tree stands tall in the center of the greenhouse.

This is a tall leguminous tree called the Royal Poinciana, native to Madagascar, and in Okinawa it is planted in parks and used as a street tree.
This tree, which was planted inside the greenhouse nearly 40 years ago, is truly a symbolic tree, and there are enthusiastic fans who come to the large greenhouse specifically to see it.

The royal poinciana tree blooms with bright red flowers every year around August.
The contrast between the green leaves and the red flowers is very beautiful and makes for a truly impressive sight.

Royal Poinciana flower

However, the amount of flowers that bloom varies from year to year, and in the summer of 2024, although it did bloom, the number of flowers was very small, which made me worry that the tree might have weakened.
So, we increased the frequency and amount of watering, and it seems to have had an effect, as in 2025, many more flowers bloomed than the previous year, reaching their peak around the end of August.
The butterflies sipped the nectar, their bodies covered in pollen, and flew around.

Pollen is red, so it's easy to spot.
These pollen-covered butterflies facilitated pollination, and by late autumn, the plant produced numerous pods, typical of legumes.
The pods were a beautiful green color at first, but they gradually started to turn brown around the beginning of the year.

These hardened, brown "pods" rattle when shaken.
Apparently, in Madagascar, it's sometimes used as a musical instrument.
When I shook the "sheath" I had in my hand, it did indeed make a nice sound, just like a maraca.

Now, regarding the royal poinciana tree, since it is planted in a large greenhouse with a glass ceiling, it requires pruning every year.
In February, the insectarium has professional pruning done by skilled workers.
The large greenhouse has a ceiling height of 16 meters, and the royal poinciana tree seems to reach that ceiling, so its height is probably around 15 meters.
It's very refreshing to watch the craftsmen climb the tree with ease, relying on ropes, and neatly trim the branches.
By the time this article is published, the pruning will be finished, so you should be able to see a neat and tidy royal poinciana tree.

As evening falls and the sun sets, many butterflies rest in the branches of the flamboyant trees. The same is true on gloomy, rainy days.
If you notice that there aren't many butterflies flying around in the large greenhouse, try observing the branches of the flamboyant trees.
There are surely lots of butterflies hiding there.

[Tama Zoo]

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(February 27, 2026)