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Erythrina variegata
Fabaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Erythrina variegata

Erythrina variegata

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves and seeds contain low concentrations of alkaloids and have narcotic properties. The seeds contain the alkaloids hypaphorine, erysodine, and erysopine; the leaves and bark contain the poison erythrinine, which act upon the nervous system[1]. Saponins are present in the leaves, bark and seeds[1]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[PFAF]. Hydrocyanic acid has been found in the leaves, stems, roots and fruits[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Tree
GrowthFast

Succeeds in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas at elevations up to 1,200 metres[1]. Plants grow best in areas where the annual rainfall is in the region of 800 - 1,500mm, the mean minimum temperature is around 20°c and the mean maximum temperature is 32°c[1, 2]. Succeeds in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil[3]. Plants are tolerant of salt-laden winds and moderate levels of salt in the soil[4]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[4]. Unpruned trees may attain a height of 15 - 20 metres in 8 - 10 years[1]. Subsequently, the growth rate slows down, but the main stem continues to increase in diameter[1]. The tree can live to about 100 years[1]. In general, rooting is superficial, with most roots in the upper 30 cm of the soil; older trees, however, root deeper[1]. When trees are used to support vines, side branches are lopped at interval of 6 - 8 weeks, the foliage being used as green manure or fodder[1]. When planted for shade, lower branches are removed immediately after establishment and only a few high branches are allowed to grow[1]. Subsequently, the trees are pollarded once per year in the middle of the rainy season[1]. A very variable species[5]. The seeds float and can be dispersed by ocean currents[1]. 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]. 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

Fresh seeds, and those harvested within 3 - 6 months of maturity, can be sown without any special treatment. Germination rates are generally high and are often 100%. Seeds over 6 months old may take between 12 - 18 months to germinate due to their hard seed coat which becomes tougher with age. Soaking them in hot water, or abrading their seedcoat, can reduce this time considerably. They may be added to water which has just fallen below boiling point and left in the water as it cools for a minimum of one hour, but up to 12 hours for seed 3 years or more old, and then sown in the usual way. Alternatively, file the seeds with a slender triangular file. A groove can be made through the sides of the seed coat with care so as to avoid damaging the cotyledons or embryo, which usually results in the death of the seeds from fungal attack or in malformed and weakened seedlings[9]. Seeds of most species produce strong seedlings from healthy seeds in almost any well-drained soil, with a minimum of trouble from damping-off disease[9]. Seed - germinates in 8 - 10 days. Seedlings attain a transplantable height of 30 - 50 cm in 8 - 10 weeks[1]. Large cuttings, 2 - 3 metres long and 5 - 8 cm in diameter, root well[1]. Using large cuttings makes sure that new shoots are above grazing height and also allows fast early growth[1]. Branch cuttings with the terminal buds are sometimes used to obtain tall, straight-stemmed trees[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Erythrina+variegata>

Pollinators

Birds, Insects

References

  1. [1]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.
  2. [2]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]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.
  5. [5]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.
  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]Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Vol. 66 — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; Missouri. · 1979 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Contains an article on propagating Erythrina spp. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  10. [10]The Useful Plants of the Island of Guam — Safford W.E. · Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1905 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ ↩︎A very comprehensive, if rather dated, guide to the plants of Guam. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  11. [11]Green Manures and Manuring in the Tropics — Sornay P. De. Translated by Flattely F.W. · John Bale, Sons and Danielsson Ltd.: London · 1916 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎An excellent work on the subject, even if it was written almost 100 years ago. It also includes a section of useful Legumes. Can be downloaded from the Internet.
  12. [12]Medicinal Plants in Vietnam — Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu · World Health Organisation · 1989 · ISBN 92 9061 101 4 ↩︎An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
  13. [13]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
  14. [14]A Manual of Indian Timbers. — Gamble. J. S. · Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh · 1972 · ISBN - ↩︎First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
  15. [15]Useful Fiber Plants of the World — Dodge C.R. · USDA; Washington. · 1897 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ ↩︎A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
  16. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎