Ornamental plant coral tree

Morphology of coral tree horticultural uses of coral tree

1. Coral tree (Erythrina variegata) Kingdom: plantae Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Erythrina Species: Erythrina variegata

2. They escription: coral tree ( Erythrina variegata) i s a spreading tropical and sub tropical tree legume, renowned as an ornamental for its conspicuous red blossoms. Morphological characteristics: Erythrina variegata is a showy, spreading,deciduous tree legume that can reach a height of 18 to 25 m. thecrown may range from 6 to 12 m in diameter. Leaves: the leaves are compound , trifoliate borne on 2 to 28 cm long petiole. Root: shallow-rooted , the root exploring only the upper 30 cm of the soil. Stem: they have many stout and prickly branches. The bark is grey or grey-green in colour.

3. Inflorescence: raceme terminal, hairy, dense and up to 2.5 cm long . Flower: petals are bright red and shorter than the calyx . Calyx is about 4cm long and minutely 5 toothed at the tip. Stamens are 10, upper filaments free nearly to the base or more or less connate with other. Ovary many ovuled , style incurved. Fruits: the fruits are cylindrical pods constricted around the seeds, 10 to 25 cm long and 1.2 to 2 cm in diameter.

4. Horticultural uses: Young, tender leaves and young sprouts eaten as vegetable, used in curries. Seeds used internally and externally for cancer. Juice of leaves used to cure earache , toothache and cough. Also used to stimulate lactation and menstruation. Roots used for skin disease.

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