Purple coral tree, Swamp coral tree
Erythrina fusca
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An evergreen tree. It grows to 5-26 m high and spreads to 3 m across. Trees can lose their leaves. The stem is erect and sturdy and has prickles along it. The trunk branches and forks and can be crooked. It can have buttresses. The bark is grey or green and is cracked and flaky. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They are yellowish green on top and with a bluish green bloom underneath. They are thick and oval and 2.5-15 cm long by 1.4-15 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 1-19 cm long have prickles. The flowers are pea shaped and scarlet. They occur in large branching sprays at the ends of branches. This flower spray stalk is 8-13 cm long with flower stalks 3-13 cm long. The flower standard is bright orange-red. It is 4-7 cm long and 4-6 cm wide. The fruit are pods which have stalks. The pods are 14-33 cm long and 1.4-1.8 cm wide. There are 6-12 seeds in a pod. The pod is slightly constricted between the seeds. They are densely velvety. The seeds are dark brown and oblong. They are 1.2-1.8 cm long by 5-8 mm wide.
There are 108 Erythrina species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical tree. It prefers rich, moist, well drained soils. It suits a protected sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. It grows in tropical lowland swamp forest. Often it is along the edges of rivers. In Papua New Guinea it occurs between 30-135 m and 1600-2000 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Central America, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies
How it is used for food
The young leaves and shoots are eaten raw in salads, or cooked in stews and other dishes. They are also used for making tea.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers, vegetable, leaves - tea, flowers - tea
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown by cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Acacu, Acuarana, Bucayo, Changkering, Coral-bean, Eritrina-da-baixa, Gatae apalgi, Kane, Kathit, Kn-kathit, Palo prieto, Pizamo tree, Rase, Sanandu, Suina, Swamp immortelle, Tawng lang nam, Thong lang, Thong long, Vong
Synonyms
Erythrina glauca Willd.; Erythrina ovalifolia Roxb.; Erythrina atrosanguinea Ridley;