Erythrina
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 Flower of the Coral Bean, Erythrina herbacea
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Erythrina is a genus of tropical and subtropical flowering trees in the Family Fabaceae and distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The name coral tree is used for many of these trees. Many species of Erythrina have bright red flowers, and this may be the origin of the common name (Greek ερυθρος). However, the growth of the branches can resemble the shape of sea coral, and this is an alternative source for the name. In horticulture, the name "coral tree" is used to refer to any red-flowered member of the genus. Not all species of Erythrina have bright red flowers; the Wiliwili (E. sandwicensis) has extraordinary variation in its flower colour, with orange, yellow, salmon, green and white all being found within natural populations. This striking color polymorphism is likely unique in the genus.
There are about 130 species in the Genus Erythrina, some of them well known, as they are used widely in the tropics and subtropics as street and park trees, especially in drier areas. Species include:
- Erythrina caffra – Kaffirboom (South Africa)
- Erythrina crista-galli – Cockspur Coral Tree or Ceibo (South America)
- Erythrina edulis – Basul (Andes)
- Erythrina flabelliformis – Kearney Coral Bean (Arizona, New Mexico)
- Erythrina herbacea – Coral Bean (southeastern United States)
- Erythrina humeana – Dwarf Coral Tree (South Africa)
- Erythrina indica – Tiger Claw (Ryūkyū Islands)
- Erythrina lysistemon – Common Coral Tree (South Africa)
- Erythrina mulungu (syn. E. verna) – Mulungu (South America)
- Erythrina sandwicensis – Wiliwili (Hawai‘i)
- Erythrina verspertilio - Bat's wing coral tree, Been tree (Australia)
All species of Erythrina have bean-like seed pods. The seeds of over 40 of the species contain alkaloids, and some of the Amazonian species are used for medicinal and other purposes by indigenous peoples.
Erythrina species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita damor, Hypercompe eridanus and Hypercompe icasia.
The Cockspur coral tree (E. crista-galli) is the national flower of Argentina and the official city tree of Los Angeles, California (where it is referred to simply as the "coral tree").
[edit] External link
- List of species of Erythrina from LegumeWeb
