Habit: Calliandra haematomma grows as a shrub to 3 meters in height (usually shorter). The bipinnately compound leaves are arranged alternately, to 15 cm long with pinnae in 1 pair. The subleaflets are up to 8 pairs, oblong to obovate, with an obtuse or mucronate leaf apex and entire margin.
The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are in arranged in powder-puff ball heads. The calyx has 5, green, fused sepals forming a tube. The corolla has 5, greenish fused petals forming a tube twice the length of the calyx. There are numerous red stamens that are 3-5 times the length of the corolla. The ovary is superior with a single locule. The fruit is a pubescent legume that turns brown at maturity and is elastically dehiscent.
Habitat: Calliandra haematomma grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations – Forests/Shrublands and Pine Woodlands.
Distribution: Calliandra haematomma occurs on almost every island grouping within the Lucayan Archipelago as well as the Greater Antilles and in the central area of South America.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Calliandra haematomma is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.