Erythrina caffra
Erythrina caffra
Safety & 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[1, PFAF].
Cultivation Details
A tree of the lowland subtropics, it is sometimes cultivated in tropical areas. It can be found at elevations up to 200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 28°c, but can tolerate 12 - 35°c[2]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -4°c or lower, but new growth will be severely damaged at 0°c[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 400 - 1,500mm[2]. An easily grown plant, it prefers a position in full sun[3, 4]. Prefers a well-drained soil[3]. Plants can tolerate fairly moist soils as well as dry soils and poor soils[3]. Found in the wild in various soil types from wet, well-drained, humus-rich soils to dry, clayey soils[3]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[2]. Mature plants are fairly drought tolerant[3]. A moderately fast-growing plant[3]. This species is reported to hybridise freely with the related E. Lysistemon in areas where their ranges overlap[5]. 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[6, 7]. The flowers produce nectar in abundance[3]. 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[8].
Propagation
Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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. Only sow seed that has sunk to the bottom of the water, any floating seed is very unlikely to germinate[3]. Cuttings. An effective, and more instant, propagation method is by making giant hardwood cuttings called truncheons. These are branches measuring at least 40mm in diameter. This method works very well and cuttings must be taken just before the trees come out of dormancy[3]. Allow the wound to dry for about 1 - 2 days, then bury one third of the truncheon in soil, while leaving two thirds exposed to produce the new growth[3]. Smaller cuttings root just as well[3]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Erythrina+caffra>
Pollinators
Birds, Insects
References
- [1]The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation — Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. · University of Wisconsin · 1981 · ISBN 0-333-32221-5 ↩︎An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
- [2]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [3]PlantZAfrica.com — http://www.plantzafrica.com ↩︎An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
- [4]Desert Tropicals — http://www.desert-tropicals.com/ ↩︎The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
- [5]Flora Zambesiaca — http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html ↩︎An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
- [6]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [7]Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Vol 75 — Missouri Botanical Garden: Boston. · 1988 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Contains, amongst other things, an article on the flora of Tanzania, a treatment of the genus Xyris and one for the Panamanian Boraginaceae. It can be downloaded from the internet.
- [8]Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy — United States Department of Agriculture · http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en ↩︎An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
- [9]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎