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[[Image:Erythravine.png|thumb|right|[[Erythravine]] is [[tetrahydroisoquinoline]] [[alkaloid]] from ''[[Erythrina mulungu]]'', studied for possible [[anxiolytic]] properties.]]
[[Image:Erythravine.png|thumb|right|[[Erythravine]] is [[tetrahydroisoquinoline]] [[alkaloid]] from ''[[Erythrina mulungu]]'', studied for possible [[anxiolytic]] properties.]]
The conspicuous, even dramatic coral trees are widely used as [[floral emblem]]s. [[Cockspur Coral Tree]] (''E. crista-galli'') is the national flower of [[Argentina]]. The Coastal Coral Tree (''[[Erythrina caffra|E. caffra]]'') is the official city tree of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], where it is referred to simply as the "coral tree". The state trees of [[Mérida (state)|Mérida]] and [[Trujillo (state)|Trujillo]] in [[Venezuela]] are ''[[bucare ceibo]]'' (''[[Erythrina poeppigiana|E. poeppigiana]]'') and [[Purple Coral Tree]] (''bucare anauco, E. fusca''), respectively. [[Yonabaru, Okinawa]] as well as the [[Okinawa Prefecture]] and [[Pathum Thani Province]] have the [[Indian Coral Tree]] (''E. variegata'') as floral emblems. Known as ''thong lang'' in [[Thailand]], the latter species is also one of the ''thong'' ("trees") referred to in the name of [[Amphoe Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province]]. In a similar vein, [[Zumpahuacán]] in [[Mexico]] derives its name from [[Nahuatl]] ''tzompahuacá'', "place of the ''[[Erythrina americana]]''". In [[Vietnam]], people use the leaves of [[Erythrina variegata]] to wrap '''nem''' (a kind of fermented pork).
The conspicuous, even dramatic coral trees are widely used as [[floral emblem]]s. [[Cockspur Coral Tree]] (''E. crista-galli'') is the national flower of [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]]. The Coastal Coral Tree (''[[Erythrina caffra|E. caffra]]'') is the official city tree of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], where it is referred to simply as the "coral tree". The state trees of [[Mérida (state)|Mérida]] and [[Trujillo (state)|Trujillo]] in [[Venezuela]] are ''[[bucare ceibo]]'' (''[[Erythrina poeppigiana|E. poeppigiana]]'') and [[Purple Coral Tree]] (''bucare anauco, E. fusca''), respectively. [[Yonabaru, Okinawa]] as well as the [[Okinawa Prefecture]] and [[Pathum Thani Province]] have the [[Indian Coral Tree]] (''E. variegata'') as floral emblems. Known as ''thong lang'' in [[Thailand]], the latter species is also one of the ''thong'' ("trees") referred to in the name of [[Amphoe Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province]]. In a similar vein, [[Zumpahuacán]] in [[Mexico]] derives its name from [[Nahuatl]] ''tzompahuacá'', "place of the ''[[Erythrina americana]]''". In [[Vietnam]], people use the leaves of [[Erythrina variegata]] to wrap '''nem''' (a kind of fermented pork).


In [[Hinduism]], the ''mandara'' tree in [[Indra]]'s garden in [[Svarga]] is held to be ''[[Erythrina stricta]]''. The same motif is found in [[Tibetan Buddhism]], where the ''man da ra ba'' growing in [[Sukhavati]] is identified as an [[Indian Coral Tree]] (''E. variegata''). The concept of the [[Five Trees]] of [[Paradise]] is also found in Christian [[Gnosticism]]. Though as none of the trees is identified as an ''Erythrina'' here, the concept might not be as directly related to the Asian religions as some presume.
In [[Hinduism]], the ''mandara'' tree in [[Indra]]'s garden in [[Svarga]] is held to be ''[[Erythrina stricta]]''. The same motif is found in [[Tibetan Buddhism]], where the ''man da ra ba'' growing in [[Sukhavati]] is identified as an [[Indian Coral Tree]] (''E. variegata''). The concept of the [[Five Trees]] of [[Paradise]] is also found in Christian [[Gnosticism]]. Though as none of the trees is identified as an ''Erythrina'' here, the concept might not be as directly related to the Asian religions as some presume.

Revision as of 21:41, 7 September 2009

Coral trees
Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea) flowers. Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay, Florida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
(unranked):
Eudicots
Subclass:
Rosidae
(unranked):
Eurosids I
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Subfamily:
Faboideae
Tribe:
Phaseoleae
Genus:
Erythrina

Species

About 130, see text

Synonyms

Erythina (lapsus)

Erythrina (Template:Pron-en)[1] is a genus of tropical and subtropical flowering trees in the Family Fabaceae and distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They grow up to 30 meters in height. There are about 130 species in the genus Erythrina

Particularly in horticulture, the name coral tree is used as a collective term for these plants. "Flame trees" is another vernacular name, but may refer to a number of unrelated plants as well. Many species of Erythrina have bright red flowers – cf. Greek erythrós (ερυθρóς, "red") –, and this may be the origin of the common name. However, the growth of the branches can resemble the shape of sea coral rather than the color of Corallium rubrum specifically, and this is an alternative source for the name. Other popular names, usually local and particular to distinct species, liken the flowers' red hues to those of a male chicken's wattles, and/or the flower shape to its leg spurs. Commonly-seen Spanish names for any local species are bucaré, frejolillo or porotillo, and in Afrikaans some are called kaffirboom. Mullumurikku is a widespread name in Kerala.

Description and ecology

Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) feeding on Indian Coral Tree (E. variegata) flowers in Kolkata (India).

Not all species of Erythrina have bright red flowers; the Wiliwili (E. sandwicensis) has extraordinary variation in its flower colour, with orange, yellow, salmon, green and white all being found within natural populations. This striking color polymorphism is likely unique in the genus.

All species have bean-like seed pods, except the sterile hybrid E. × sykesii. The resilient buoyant seeds are often carried by the sea for large distances and are commonly-found "sea beans".

Erythrina leaves are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the swift moth Endoclita damor and the woolly bears Hypercompe eridanus and Hypercompe icasia. The mite Tydeus munsteri is a pest on the Coastal Coral Tree (E. caffra).

Many birds visit the nectar-rich Erythrina flowers. In the Neotropics, these are usually larger hummingbirds, for example the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura) and the Black-throated (Anthracothorax nigricollis) and Green-breasted Mango (A. prevostii) – though they seem not to be especially fond of E. speciosa at least, which they visit rather opportunistically. In Southeast Asia, the Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) which usually does not eat nectar in quantity has been observed feeding on E. suberosa flowers, and mynas and of course more specialized nectar feeders also utilize coral tree flowers. Lorikeets such as the Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius) and the possibly extinct New Caledonian Lorikeet (Charmosyna diadema) are known to consume (or have consumed) large amounts of Erythrina nectar. The seeds are eaten by many birds, including the common Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula).

Use by humans

Some coral trees are used widely in the tropics and subtropics as street and park trees, especially in drier areas. In some places, such as Venezuela, bucarés are used as shade trees for coffee or cocoa crops. In the Bengal region, they are used for the same purpose in Schumannianthus dichotoma plantations. E. lanceolata in particular is considered highly suitable as "frame" tree for vanilla vines to grow up on.

Erythravine is tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid from Erythrina mulungu, studied for possible anxiolytic properties.

The conspicuous, even dramatic coral trees are widely used as floral emblems. Cockspur Coral Tree (E. crista-galli) is the national flower of Argentina and Uruguay. The Coastal Coral Tree (E. caffra) is the official city tree of Los Angeles, California, where it is referred to simply as the "coral tree". The state trees of Mérida and Trujillo in Venezuela are bucare ceibo (E. poeppigiana) and Purple Coral Tree (bucare anauco, E. fusca), respectively. Yonabaru, Okinawa as well as the Okinawa Prefecture and Pathum Thani Province have the Indian Coral Tree (E. variegata) as floral emblems. Known as thong lang in Thailand, the latter species is also one of the thong ("trees") referred to in the name of Amphoe Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province. In a similar vein, Zumpahuacán in Mexico derives its name from Nahuatl tzompahuacá, "place of the Erythrina americana". In Vietnam, people use the leaves of Erythrina variegata to wrap nem (a kind of fermented pork).

In Hinduism, the mandara tree in Indra's garden in Svarga is held to be Erythrina stricta. The same motif is found in Tibetan Buddhism, where the man da ra ba growing in Sukhavati is identified as an Indian Coral Tree (E. variegata). The concept of the Five Trees of Paradise is also found in Christian Gnosticism. Though as none of the trees is identified as an Erythrina here, the concept might not be as directly related to the Asian religions as some presume.

The seeds of at least one-third of the species contain potent erythrina alkaloids, and some of these are used for medicinal and other purposes by indigenous peoples. They are all toxic to some degree however, and the seeds of some can cause fatal poisoning. The main active compounds in this genus generally seem to be alkaloids, such as Scoulerine, Erysodin and Erysovin (namely in E. flabelliformis), and the putative anxiolytic Erythravine (isolated from Mulungu, E. mulungu). Except for ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing Erythrina is prohibited by Louisiana State Act 159 (where the genus is misspelt Erythina).

Selected species

Erythrina abyssinica in flower, Funchal (Madeira)
Erythrina speciosa inflorescences, Brazil
Erythrina zeyheri leaflets
Erythrina × sykesii in flower, Auckland (New Zealand)

Horticultural hybrids:

E. monosperma is now Butea monosperma.

See also

References

  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
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