| Erythrina herbacea | |
|---|---|
| Flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Erythrina |
| Species: | E. herbacea |
| Binomial name | |
| Erythrina herbacea L. |
|
| Synonyms | |
Erythrina herbacea, commonly known as the Coral Bean, Cherokee Bean, Red Cardinal or Cardinal Spear, is a flowering shrub or small tree found throughout the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico;[1] it has also been reported from parts of Central America and, as an introduced species, from Pakistan. Various other systematic names have been used for this plant in the past, including Erythrina arborea, Erythrina hederifolia, Erythrina humilis, Erythrina rubicunda, Corallodendron herbaceum and Xyphanthus hederifolius.
Contents |
Coral Bean grows as a low shrub or small tree, reaching around 5 m (16 ft) in height in areas that do not kill it back by freezing;[2] elsewhere it may only reach 1.2 m (3.9 ft). Stems are covered in curved spines.[3] The leaves are yellowish-green, 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide. The leaves are divided into three 2.5–8 cm (0.98–3.1 in) arrowhead-shaped leaflets.[2] The bark is smooth and light gray.[4] The tubular flowers are bright red and grow in long spikes,[5] each flower being 4–6.5 cm (1.6–2.6 in) long;[2] the tree blooms from April to July.[3] They are followed by 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) pods containing bright red seeds, from which the tree gets its name.[2] Toxic alkaloids, including erysopine, erysothiopine, erysothiovine, erysovine, erythrinine, erythroresin, coralin, erythric acid, and hypaphorine,[6] are found throughout the plant. These cause paralysis upon ingestion, much like curare.[7]
Coral Bean grows best in sandy soils and has moderate salt tolerance. It can be found in open woods, forest clearings, hammocks, and disturbed areas.[8]
E. herbacea can be readily grown in gardens within its natural range. Although its use in gardens is not particularly common, it is popular among those who do grow it as a source of early season color, for its hardiness (USDA Zones 7-10), and because it attracts hummingbirds.[9]
Native American people had many medicinal uses for this plant, varying between nations and localities. Creek women used an infusion of the root for bowel pain; the Choctaw used a decoction of the leaves as a general tonic; the Seminole used an extract of the roots for digestive problems, and extracts of the seeds, or of the inner bark, as an external rub for rheumatic disorders.[10]
In Mexico, the seeds are used as a rat poison, while a fish poison is made from the bark and leaves.[7]