Sorry for the thread creep (no, really!) but , ddw, what you describe sounds like the tree that I've seen in the S.Pacific Cook islands and in St Lucia,,WI, which I've heard called the flamboyant or flame tree. Is it the same? The pods are about a foot long and the flame red leaves/flowers are right at the top?
Botany is another thing (like music)that I know litle about!
RtS