Delonix regia Rafin is the scientific botanical name of which commonly seen ornamental tree with bright red flowers?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Gulmohar

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Scientific names in binomial nomenclature are widely used to identify plants and animals with precision across languages and regions. Delonix regia Rafin is a well known botanical name often asked in general science and general knowledge exams. Learners commonly see this tree in cities and along roads, but may not remember its scientific name. This question checks whether you can connect the Latin name Delonix regia with the ornamental tree popularly known as Gulmohar, also called the flame of the forest because of its bright red or orange flowers.


Given Data / Assumptions:
– The scientific name given is Delonix regia Rafin.
– The options list four common tree names: Tamarind, Gulmohar, Banyan, and Chiku (sapodilla).
– We assume standard botany based binomial nomenclature where the first word is the genus and the second word is the species.
– The task is to match the scientific name to the correct common name used in India and many other regions.


Concept / Approach:
Botanical nomenclature follows the binomial system introduced by Carl Linnaeus. Each plant species has a unique scientific name, usually italicised and written with the genus name starting with a capital letter and the species name in lower case. Delonix regia is the scientific name for the Gulmohar tree, a leguminous tree famous for its showy red and orange flowers and feathery leaves. It is planted along roadsides and in gardens as an ornamental shade tree in many tropical and subtropical regions. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), banyan (Ficus benghalensis), and Chiku (Manilkara zapota) each have their own different scientific names that do not match Delonix regia.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Delonix regia is commonly associated with a large ornamental tree with vivid red flowers. Step 2: Connect this description with the popular Gulmohar tree, often seen lining roads and in public parks. Step 3: Remember the scientific names of other common trees: Tamarindus indica for tamarind, Ficus benghalensis for banyan, and Manilkara zapota for Chiku. Step 4: Conclude that only Gulmohar correctly matches the scientific name Delonix regia Rafin.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this match by consulting any standard botany text, a school biology book, or a reliable online flora database. All of these list Delonix regia as the accepted scientific name of the Gulmohar tree. Pictures in such references show the same fern like leaves and bright red flowers that you associate with Gulmohar in real life, which confirms the correctness of this mapping. The other options have widely known scientific names that differ clearly from Delonix regia, which reinforces the answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tamarind: The scientific name of tamarind is Tamarindus indica, not Delonix regia, so this option is incorrect.
Banyan: Banyan trees are identified by the name Ficus benghalensis, which belongs to a different genus and family, so this option does not match the given scientific name.
Chiku: Chiku or sapodilla has the scientific name Manilkara zapota and therefore cannot be associated with the genus Delonix, which makes this option wrong.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Delonix regia with other ornamental or fruit trees because the Latin names may sound unfamiliar. Another frequent mistake is to choose a very common tree, such as banyan or mango, when they are unsure, without checking whether the scientific name really fits. To avoid such errors, it helps to memorise scientific names of a small set of very common plants systematically and to relate the name to a visual image of the plant. Recognising that Gulmohar is famous world wide under the name Delonix regia makes future questions of this type easier.


Final Answer:
Delonix regia Rafin is the scientific botanical name of the ornamental tree known as Gulmohar.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion