Common Name:

General Information

Erythrina americana is a spiny, deciduous shrub or tree growing up to 9 metres tall[]. The plant flowers as the new leaves are opening.
The tree is often used locally as a source of food and medicine. It is also grown for medicinal purposes, as wel as to provide shade for cocoa and coffee, as a support tree, as a live fence, and as an ornamental in gardens[, ].

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

C. America - Belize, Guatemala, to southern N. America - Mexico.

Habitat

Thorn forest, probably on limestone.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Birds, Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Erythrina species are tolerant of a range of soils, often tolerating poor fertility, but generally grow best in a sunny position in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil[].
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[, ].
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[].

Edible Uses

The flowers are frequently eaten[]. The petals and young inflorescences are fried and eaten, especially in tamales at Easter time[]. The succulent flowers of many species in this genus are often cooked and eaten as a vegetable or prepared as a salad[].

A tea is made from the flowers[].

Tender young leaves - cooked and used as greens[].

Medicinal

The flowers are sedative[].

The seeds are considered laxative, diuretic, expectorant, anti-asthmatic and antimalarial[]. They should be used with caution due to the presence of alkaloids[].

The seeds contain isoquinoline alkaloids; of these, β-erythroidine and its more potent derivate dihydro-β-erythroidine were shown to possess curariform activity[].

Several Mexican species are used medicinally - their roots are considered sudorific; their leaves are considered emmenagogue; a decoction of the flowers is used in treating chest affections; and the juice of the stems is applied to scorpion stings[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is grown to provide shade for cocoa and coffee trees[]. It is also used as a support tree[].
Even fairly large branches will root when placed in the ground - coupled with the plants spiny nature and tolerance of trimming, this makes it very useful as a live 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 plant is cropped to provide material for green manure[].

Other Uses

The bark of many species in this genus yields a yellow dye[].

The handsome seeds of many species in this genus, usually of various shades of red, are strung as necklaces, and also used by children in games[].

The wood is very soft and light and is used for corks, for carving small figures and images, and for various other purposes[].
The wood of Erythrina species is generally greyish-white in colour, light in weight but strong, with a spongy texture and not very durable[].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].
Cuttings - even quite large branches root easily in the open ground[].

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