Erythrina arborescens
Roxb.
Sunshine coral tree
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(c) Bon Pradhan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A tree. The trunk and branches have prickles. The leaves have leaflets and the end leaflet is kidney shaped and 8-20 cm long. The base is heart shaped. The side leaflets are broadly heart shaped. The flowers are in the axils of the last leaf. There are 3 flowers in a cluster. The are red and hang down. The pod is curved and 12-19 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. It has a beak at the end. There are 5-10 seeds. They are white or brown and kidney shaped. They are 2 cm across.
Edible Uses
The flowers are eaten.
Medicinal Uses
A decoction of the bark is taken internally as an anthelmintic. The juice of the bark is applied topically to treat boils.
Known Hazards
All Erythrina species contain greater or lesser amounts of toxic alkaloids - these can be found in all parts of the plant but are usually most concentrated in the seeds. Concentrations vary from species to species, in some it is low enough that the plant is safely used as a food. In many, the alkaloids are utilized for their medicinal effects. We have no specific information on the concentration of the alkaloids in this species, but care should be exercised in any use of the plant that involves ingestion. These alkaloids have a curare-like action (obtained from Strychnos species) and can cause paralysis and even death by respiratory failure.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in mountain valleys and grassy slopes up to 2,100 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Where It Grows
Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Cuttings - even quite large branches root easily in the open ground.
Other Uses
The wood is soft, light and fairly durable. It is used for various purposes, such as making sieve frames, flooring. The plant is grown as a hedge. It is grown at the edges of cultivated, terraced fields in order to bind the soil and prevent landslides. Most Erythrina species are very easy to grow from cuttings, with even quite large branches striking well. In addition, they generally fix atmospheric nitrogen, have nutrient-rich leaves that make an excellent soil-enriching mulch, often have open crowns that do not overly restrict light, and are also often quite thorny and can provide impenetrable barriers to protect from unwelcome intrusions. Many species are therefore used as living fences to provide boundaries and livestock-proof hedges.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Kathit, Maga, Phaledo, Pohon dadap mentari, Theki kath
References (2)
- Liu, Yi-tao, & Long, Chun-Lin, 2002, Studies on Edible Flowers Consumed by Ethnic Groups in Yunnan. Acta Botanica Yunnanica. 24(1):41-56
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 261
