Common Name:

General Information

Erythrina excelsa is a deciduous tree; it can grow from 9 - 30 metres tall, exceptionally to 45 metres. The straight bole can be unbranched for up to 20 metres and up to 80cm (exceptionally 250cm) in diameter; it is armed with strong woody conical spines. The tree sometimes has steep buttresses up to 7 metres high[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is planted locally as an ornamental and roadside tree[], and has been recommended for use as a shade tree in plantations[]..
Erythrina excelsa is widespread, but seems to be uncommon or even rare in many parts of its distribution area. In some regions it is reported to be common, e.g. In the forest belt near Lake Victoria in Uganda. In regions in Uganda where the wood is commonly used in the drum-making industry, the number of mature trees has decreased significantly[].

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

Tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, DR Congo, southern Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia.

Habitat

Swamp; riverine forest; lake-shore forest; rain-forest; mushitu; 900 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Sunbirds
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A very fast-growing tree[, ].
Planted trees can be managed by pollarding[].
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

None known

Medicinal

The bark sap is administered as an antidote for snakebites[].

Isoflavonoids have been isolated from the bark[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Cuttings are used for planting as living fence material[].
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 has been recommended for cultivation as a shade tree for coffee and cocoa plantations[].
The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees[].

Other Uses

The yellow-white wood is light in weight, soft and easy to work. It is popular in Uganda for making drums, and is also used for stools, shields, mortars and carving for the tourist industry[].
The wood is used as fuelwood and for making charcoal[, ].

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[].
The plant roots readily from branch stakes[].

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