This striking shrub with its pompom-like flowers can be found in the Western Tropical House.
The pea family (Fabaceae) is the third largest flowering plant family, comprising trees, shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials and annuals belonging to over 700 genera from all continents except Antarctica. Most members of the Fabaceae have alternate leaves, and many have flowers whose lower petals are fused to form a keel, as in the pea, Pisum sativum. In the tropical genus Calliandra the inflorescence is comprised of a spherical head of many small flowers with prominent stamens. The woody Bolivian endemic Calliandra haematocephala is one of 200 species whose red, pink or white stamens produce a spherical head and give rise to the common name powderpuff plant.