The Flamboyan! One of the most beautiful trees in the Caribbean. It is a symbol of freedom, an emblem of Puerto Rican culture and many of us have a painting of this tree in our homes. Its history is deeper than you think — it turns out that the tree is not native to the Caribbean, nor to this side of the planet! And what does Flamboyán have in common with beans and coconuts? Why do some think it is an unlucky tree? What does it have to do with the British Empire and the military? And why is everyone obsessed with this tree? Our story begins in 1821, with…