About Calliandra haematocephala Hassk.
Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. is a rambling shrub or small tree with branched pinnate, silky leaves and conspicuous powder-puff-like clusters of dark crimson stamens. It is a fast-growing species that grows tall while also spreading wide, reaching a maximum height of up to 5 m. This plant has 1 pair of pinnae; there are 5–8 leaflets per pinna, with a range of 4 to 10 possible. Leaflets are narrowly ovate, elliptic, or obovate; distal leaflets measure 15–84 mm long and 5–35 mm wide, while proximal leaflets are smaller. Capitula are spherical and heteromorphic, with axillary peduncles 1.2–3.3 cm long, reaching up to 5.3 cm at maximum. Flowers are essentially glabrous; the calyx is campanulate and 1.5–3 mm long, and the corolla is tubular and 8 mm long. Filaments are red, occasionally white. The staminal tube is briefly exserted on most flowers, and is strongly exserted only on the central flower. Fruits are coriaceous and glabrous. If desired, trimming can keep this plant smaller than its natural size. A notable trait of the species is that its leaves close at night. Unopened flower buds resemble raspberries. The attractive red powder-puff flowers draw in butterflies and hummingbirds, and bloom only from November to April in the Northern Hemisphere. This large shrub can be grown indoors in a pot with regular trimming, though it grows best outdoors in warm climates. Extracts from plant parts of Calliandra haematocephala have been used in the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanostructures, magnetite nanoparticles, and silver nanoparticles.
