Delonix elata (Poinciana elata)

Delonix elata (historically referred to as Poinciana elata and known as the White Gulmohur or Yellow Poinciana) is a deciduous tree species in the legume family (Fabaceae), native to the dry bushlands, semi-desert scrub, and rocky acacia-commiphora woodlands of Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Recognized for its elegant, spreading canopy and feathery bipinnate leaves, the tree produces striking pale creamy-white to yellow flowers with crinkled petals and remarkably long, protruding purplish-yellow stamens that attract a wide variety of native pollinators.

The tree has extensive pastoral and practical utility in the arid ecosystems of Somalia. Pastoralist communities value its foliage and tender pods as nutritious fodder for camels and livestock during severe dry seasons, while its wood is traditionally crafted into pastoral implements, utensils, and fuel. Its bark and leaves also feature prominently in local folk medicine for treating joint pain and fever. The stamp illustration highlights the delicate floral blossoms and extended stamens against a dark backdrop, emphasizing the resilient flowering beauty native to the Horn of Africa.