Common Name: Mountain Immortelle

General Information

Erythrina poeppigiana is a large tree with a moderately spreading crown, it can grow up to 35 metres tall, sometimes forming more than one main stem[]. The bole has thorn-like protuberances, it can be free of branches for the first 10 - 20 metres and is up to 2 metres in diameter[, ]. The tree is evergreen in the humid lowlands, but moves towards a short period of leaflessness when growing in drier areas or at higher elevations[].
At one time this species was widely grown in the tropics (especially the Americas) as a shade tree for coffee, cocoa and sometimes also tea; and was also valued for the production of green manure and mulch[]. It is much less used for that purpose nowadays[]. A very ornamental plant, valued especially for its bright, orange-ref flowers, it is often used in landscaping[, ].

Known Hazards

All Erythrina species contain greater or lesser amounts of toxic alkaloids - these can be found in all parts of the plant but are usually most concentrated in the seeds. Concentrations vary from species to species, in some it is low enough that the plant is safely used as a food. In many, the alkaloids are utilized for their medicinal effects. We have no specific information on the concentration of the alkaloids in this species, but care should be exercised in any use of the plant that involves ingestion. These alkaloids have a curare-like action (obtained from Strychnos species) and can cause paralysis and even death by respiratory failure[, ].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, north to Panama.

Habitat

Humid and subhumid tropical lowlands, such as the riverine and upland forests of the Amazon and Orinoco Basins[]. Found in secondary formations, in areas not subject to inundation, favouring deep, fertile, humus-rich, clayey soils[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Birds
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland, humid tropical areas to moderate elevations in the subhumid zone, where it can be cultivated at elevations up to 2,000 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 800 - 4,500mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in alluvial soils with moderate to deficient drainage[]. Found in the wild in deep, clayey soils[]. Tolerates poor soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4 - 7.5[, ].
Widely grown as an ornamental and shade tree in plantations, this species is reported to have escaped from cultivation in Cuba and become invasive there. There are no other reports of invasiveness[].
All species in this genus are believed to be self-compatible. Their flowers are adapted to pollination by birds, though various insects can also cause fertilization. The various species of Erythrina can all, as far as is known, be intercrossed to produce fertile hybrids. Those species most closely related to each other cross fairly readily, but even species that are quite distant can hybridize[, ].
The plant is pollinated by many non-specialized perching or sparrow-like birds. The amount of nectar in the flowers may reach 50 µg per flower and is so great that insects would visit too few flowers to be effective distributors of the pollen[].
Due to the slow recovery of carbohydrate reserves, pruning the tree more often than twice a year risks the debilitation and turnover of trees within a few years[]. Pruning trees periodically will prevent complete leaf fall, and pruning trees once a year is enough to impede flowering[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].
E. Poeppigiana nodulates abundantly with nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Peak values exceeding 1,000 kg/ha of nodules have been reported for unpruned cacao shade trees[].

Edible Uses

Flowers - eaten in soups and salads[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is frequently planted as a living fence[].
Most Erythrina species are very easy to grow from cuttings, with even quite large branches striking well. In addition, they generally fix atmospheric nitrogen, have nutrient-rich leaves that make an excellent soil-enriching mulch, often have open crowns that do not overly restrict light, and are also often quite thorny and can provide impenetrable barriers to protect from unwelcome intrusions. Many species are therefore used as living fences to provide boundaries and livestock-proof hedges[, ].
The tree is commonly planted in plantations such as coffee, pepper and cacao, often in combination with Cordia alliodora[]. It is planted as a shade tree in cacao plantations in the humid tropics, where it conserves soil and contributes to high and sustainable cacao yields[, ].
The tree is valued for its high production of green manure and mulch; the ease with which shade can be adjusted to the requirements of the main crop; and its ability to tolerate regular coppicing for many years[]. The green leaves contain 4.1 - 4.9% nitrogen, which makes it an excellent species for green manure production. Production of nitrogen-rich litter is abundant, and the nitrogen supply in litter fall exceeds several times the export of nitrogen in the cacao harvest[]. The nitrogen supplied through pruning residues left on the ground fulfils recommended nitrogen application rates[].
For alley cropping, the tree should be planted in dense hedgerows (1 - 2 metres between trees), with wide alleys (6 - 8 metres) between tree rows. High and sustainable bean yield in the alley-cropping system has been observed[]. In Costa Rica, alley cropping with this species has sustained 2 maize crops per year over 8 years without fertilization[]. Coffee and cacao may also be planted together with the trees[].

Other Uses

The whitish to yellowish heartwood is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. It is thick-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, soft, with poor mechanical properties and of low durability. It is only used for low value items such as crates, pencils, toothpicks and as a raw material for hardboard[, , ].
Although the wood is light, with low calorific value, it is sometimes used as a firewood[].

Propagation

Seed - immersing the seeds in water at room temperature for 24 hours enhances germination. The germination rate is about 70%[].
Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. The seeds may be stored for several years in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place (about 5°c, 30-40% relative humidity.)[].
Inoculation of seeds or cuttings with Bradyrhizobium bacteria is not generally required in areas where the plant is native or naturalized. However, inoculation is recommended when introducing the species to new areas[].
Air-layering. Roots usually appear after about 6 weeks[]. The leaves must be removed before planting and the top cut made at an angle of 45 degrees and sealed with paraffin[].
Cuttings should be long (over 1.5 metres). Stakes from lower and middle sections of 1 - 2 year-old branches give best results[]. Cuttings are planted at a depth of 30 cm[].

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