Coral Tree

Scientific Name : Erythrina variegata L.
Common Name : Coral Tree
Chinese Name : 刺桐
Family : FABACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

Origins	Between India and Oceania.
Applications	The Coral Tree grows rapidly. Its corolla is bright red and eye-catching. Interestingly, its inflorescences look like a bunch of hot peppers from a distance. It is often grown in gardens and along the streets. The bark of the Coral Tree can be used as the medicine “Haitongpi (海桐皮)”, exhibiting functions of dispelling wind-dampness and freeing the network vessels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, its flowers help astringency, reduce haemorrhage, while its leaves disperse accumulations and kill parasites.
Toxicity	Many parts of the Coral Tree are slightly poisonous, including the roots, stems, bark, leaves, flowers and unripe seeds. Symptoms of poisoning include dizziness, limb weakness, paralysis, inhibited respiration, etc.
Cultivar	The cultivar Erythrina variegata L. ‘Pitca’ has a yellow midrib and lateral veins. It is occasionally found in Hong Kong.
Pest-derived disease	Erythrina gall wasp (Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim, 2004) could invade Erythrina species, forming galls on their branches and leaves, leading to death due to fungal infections. Since the first record in 2003, Erythrina gall wasp has spread worldwide.

Traits for identification

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=6971

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Erythrina variegata Linnaeus
― Plants of the World Online : Erythrina variegata L.

Reference

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