Erythrina flabelliformis
Kearney
Chilicote, Western coral bean
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Pete Siminski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pete Siminski
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Pete Siminski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pete Siminski
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda
Summary
Source: WikipediaErythrina flabelliformis, common name chilicote or western coral bean, is a plant species native to central and northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is known from Baja California as far south as Morelos and as far east as San Luis Potosí, as well as from Arizona and New Mexico. Erythrina flabelliformis is a shrub or small tree up to 3 m (10 feet) high. Stems are white and covered with a velvety pubescence when young, armed with curved prickles about 6 mm (0.25 inches) long. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets stiff and leathery, generally broader than long. Flowers are crowded in terminal racemes, bright scarlet, about 4 cm (1.6 inches) long. Fruit tapers toward both ends, covered with tiny but dense hairs. Seeds are oval, up to 15 mm (0.6 inches) across, scarlet with a white hilum. The seed walls are potentially lethal if consumed due to the alkaloids contained in them.
Description
A shrub or small tree. It grows 3 m tall. The stems are white and have a velvety coating. The flowers are in crowded groups at the ends of branches are a bright red. The fruit tapers to the end and has short dense hairs. The seeds are oval and 16 mm across.
Traditional Uses
Caution: The seed coats are very poisonous.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Known Hazards
The seed coats are very poisonous.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant.
Where It Grows
Mexico, North America, USA,
Synonyms
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
