Coral tree
The genus Erythrina is a group of tropical and subtropical flowering trees that is distributed 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. However, the growth of the branches resembles 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, orange, yellow, salmon, green and white all being found within natural populations.
There are about 130 species in the genus Erythrina, some of them well known. They include:
- Kaffirboom, Erythrina caffa (South Africa)
- Crybaby tree or Cockspur coral tree, Erythrina crista-galli (South America)
- Coral bean, E. herbacea (South-eastern United States)
- Kearney Coralbean, E. flabelliformis (Arizona, New Mexico)
- Dwarf coral tree, E. humeana (South Africa)
- Tiger claw, E. indica (Ryukyu Islands)
- Common coral tree E. lysistemon (South Africa)
- Mulungu, E. mulungu or E. verna (South America)
- Wiliwili, E. sandwicensis (Hawaii)
Since they are members of the legume family Fabaceae, all species of Erythrina have bean-like seed pods. The seeds of over 40 of the species of contain alkaloids, and some of the Amazonian species were used for medicinal and other purposes by indigenous peoples.
The coral tree is the official city tree of Los Angeles, California.
