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Erythrina poeppigiana
Fabaceae FAMILY

Erythrina poeppigiana

Erythrina poeppigiana

Edibility
1/5
Medicinal
0/5

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

HabitSemi-deciduous Tree
Growth—

A plant of lowland, humid tropical areas to moderate elevations in the subhumid zone, where it can be cultivated at elevations up to 2,000 metres[2]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c[3]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 800 - 4,500mm[3]. Requires a sunny position[3]. Succeeds in alluvial soils with moderate to deficient drainage[2]. Found in the wild in deep, clayey soils[4]. Tolerates poor soils[3]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4 - 7.5[2, 3]. Widely grown as an ornamental and shade tree in plantations, this species is reported to have escaped from cultivation in Cuba and become invasive there. There are no other reports of invasiveness[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 plant is pollinated by many non-specialized perching or sparrow-like birds. The amount of nectar in the flowers may reach 50 µg per flower and is so great that insects would visit too few flowers to be effective distributors of the pollen[6]. Due to the slow recovery of carbohydrate reserves, pruning the tree more often than twice a year risks the debilitation and turnover of trees within a few years[2]. Pruning trees periodically will prevent complete leaf fall, and pruning trees once a year is enough to impede flowering[2]. 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]. E. Poeppigiana nodulates abundantly with nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Peak values exceeding 1,000 kg/ha of nodules have been reported for unpruned cacao shade trees[2].

Propagation

Seed - immersing the seeds in water at room temperature for 24 hours enhances germination. The germination rate is about 70%[2]. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. The seeds may be stored for several years in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place (about 5°c, 30-40% relative humidity.)[2]. Inoculation of seeds or cuttings with Bradyrhizobium bacteria is not generally required in areas where the plant is native or naturalized. However, inoculation is recommended when introducing the species to new areas[2]. Air-layering. Roots usually appear after about 6 weeks[2]. The leaves must be removed before planting and the top cut made at an angle of 45 degrees and sealed with paraffin[2]. Cuttings should be long (over 1.5 metres). Stakes from lower and middle sections of 1 - 2 year-old branches give best results[2]. Cuttings are planted at a depth of 30 cm[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Erythrina+poeppigiana>

Pollinators

Birds

References

  1. [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. [2]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.
  3. [3]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.
  4. [4]Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-15-1 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
  5. [5]Invasive Species Compendium — http://www.cabi.org ↩︎An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
  6. [6]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
  7. [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. [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. [9]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  10. [10]Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands — Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H. · USDA, Forest Service; Washington. · 1964 ↩︎Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
  11. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎