This species is closely related to and probably often confused with Erythrina senegalensis DC., a savannah tree found from Senegal to Chad. The two species may even hybridize[].

Common Name:

General Information

Erythrina vogelii is a spiny, deciduous tree with a spreading crown; it can grow from 6 - 15 metres tall. The straight bole can be free of branches for up to 12 metres and around 30 - 50cm in diameter; it is cloaked with woody, conical spines[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is used as a living fence and has excellent potential for use in reforestation projects and in establishing woodland 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

West tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Cameroom.

Habitat

A pioneer species of coastal forests, usually occurring in secondary forest formations and abandoned agricultural fields, often in somewhat swampy areas, sometimes also in savannah[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Birds, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, 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[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Unspecified plant parts, probably bark and/or roots, are used in traditional medicine in Côte d’Ivoire, to treat pains, rheumatism, bronchial complaints, gonorrhoea and haematuria, and as poison antidote[].

The root bark showed significant in-vitro activity against gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) and the plant-pathogenic fungus Cladosporium cucumerinum. The isoflavonoids 1-methoxyphaseollidin and isowighteone were isolated as antifungal constituents amongst the many flavonoids present. Erythrina vogelii contains only traces of alkaloids and is less toxic than American Erythrina spp[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer species[], it is a good candidate for use in reforestation projects and also for establishing woodland gardens[]..
Cuttings are used for planting in living fences[].
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[, ].

Other Uses

The heartwood is whitish with a pink hue; it is indistinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is very coarse and spongy. The wood is very light in weight, soft, brittle, non-durable and liable to borer atack. The green wood has a high moisture content. It is easy to saw and work, but does not plane well. The wood is traditionally used as floats for fishing nets and to make brake blocks and shingles. It is mentioned as being suitable for poles and piles, interior trim, ship and boat building, sporting goods, hardboard, particle board, wood-wool and pulpwood, but in view of its low quality, its usefulness seems limited. The branches, which root easily, are often used as fence posts[].

Propagation

Seed - germinates in 5 - 15 days[299.
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 are used for planting living fences[].
Species in this genus are generally easy to grow from cuttings. Many will strike well even from large cuttings placed in the open ground so long as they are kept moist but not too wet[].

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