Brazilian Coral tree
Erythrina falcata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-30 m tall. It has spines and loses its leaves during the year. The trunk can be 50-90 cm across. The leaves are compound with 3 leaflets. They are 15 cm long by 8 cm wide. The leaf stalk can be 5-16 cm long. The flowers are reddish-orange and 3-5 cm long. The fruit is a flat pod 10-20 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. There are 3 to 15 seeds. The seeds are kidney shaped and flattened.

It is used as medicine. A tea made from the bark is used in the treatment of asthma.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The flower petals are edible boiled and are cooked with pepper and salt.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

In Brazil, plants flower May to November and fruit September to November.

Its other names

Local names

Bico-de-arara, Bico-de-pato, Bituqueira, Ceibo, Corticeira-da-serra, Machoco, Marrequeira, Mochoro, Muchoco, Mulungu, Mutuqueira, Sanandu, Sananduba, Sanandura, Vermelheira

Synonyms

Corallodendron falcatum (Benth.) Kuntze; Erythrina crista-galli var. inermis Speg.; Erythrina martii Colla;