Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Erythrina coralloides Rank Species | Order Fabales Genus Erythrina Higher classification Erythrina | |
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Similar Erythrina, Legumes, Erythrina americana, Erythrina humeana, Erythrina caffra | ||
Erythrina coralloides (flame coral tree, naked coral tree) is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to eastern Mexico. It ranges from Tamaulipas south to Oaxaca, and some taxonomists believe it is also native to southern Arizona in the United States.
Contents
Description
Erythrina coralloides is a tree reaching a height of 5 m. Its seeds are elliptic, smooth, glossy, coral-red, with a salient longitudinal line on the back, and with a white hilum surrounded by a black border.
Uses
Its white wood is used for making bungs and, especially in San Luis PotosÃ, figurines. The clusters of red and white flowers on the Naked Coral Tree make it an attractive ornamental. The flowers are also used as a food source.
Phytochemistry
The seeds are very poisonous, containing erythroidine, a powerful muscle relaxant; erythroresin, an emetic; coralin; and erythric acid. The extract has been suggested as a substitute for curare. An analysis by Rio de la Loza showed the seeds contain 13.35 solid and liquid fat, 0.32 resin soluble in ether, 13.47 resin soluble in alcohol, 1.61 erythrococalloidine, an alkaloid, 5.60 albumen, 0.83 gum, 1.55 sugar, 0.42 organic acid, 15.87 starch, 7.15 moisture and 39.15 inorganic matter.
