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,[1] and some taxonomists believe it is also native to southern Arizona in the United States.[2]
| Naked coral tree | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Erythrina |
| Species: | E. coralloides
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| Binomial name | |
| Erythrina coralloides | |
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Description edit
Erythrina coralloides is a tree reaching a height of 12 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 edit
Its white wood is used for making bungs and, especially in San Luis Potosí, 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 edit
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.
References edit
- ^ a b "Erythrina coralloides". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
- ^ Burrows, George E.; Ronald J. Tyrl (2012). Toxic Plants of North America (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 544. ISBN 978-0-8138-2034-7.
- Maisch, John M. (September 1885). "Materia Medica of the New Mexican Pharmacopoeia - Part 5". American Journal of Pharmacy. 57 (9).
- Remington, Joseph P.; Horatio C. Wood; et al. (1918). The Dispensatory of the USA (20th ed.).
External links edit
- Erythrina coralloides photos
- International Legume Database & Information Service: Erythrina coralloides
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