Erythrina caffra Thunb.

First published in Prodr. Pl. Cap.: 121 (1800)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Mozambique to Cape Prov. It is a tree and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit
Tree (3.5)7–18 m tall, branches armed with prickles.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves scattered or clustered at ends of twigs, unarmed, glabrous; terminal leaflet 8–16 × 8–18 cm, broadly to very broadly ovate, often broader than long, acuminate; lateral leaflets 7.5–13 × 4.5–12(13.5) cm, ovate to elliptic, asymmetric; petiole 6–16 cm long, glabrous and unarmed when mature; rhachis 2.8–7.8 cm long; stipules minute, caducous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a dense terminal pseudoraceme; appearing before the leaves; flowers spreading; peduncle 19–38 cm long, glabrous at maturity; rhachis 2–4.5 cm long; bracts membranous, ovate, caducous; pedicels 2–6 mm long; bracteoles minute, linear.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 1–1.9 cm long, 2-lipped, tomentose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla red, glabrous; standard 3.5–5.5 × 1.4–2.8 cm, obovate or elliptic, strongly reflexed; wings 0.9–2.4 × 0.3–1.1 cm, oblong; keel 0.8–2.1 × 0.4–1.4 cm, oblong, the petals fused along their lower margin.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Vexillary stamen free or joined only at the base, others fused into a sheath along two-thirds of their length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1.4–2.7 cm long, narrowly cylindrical.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod black, (10)12–20 cm long, irregularly constricted between the c. 4–6 seeds, glabrous when mature.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds red, 6–8 × 4–6 × 2–3 mm; hilum black, 3–4 mm long, elliptic.
[FZ]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Tongaland-Pondoland regional transition zone; forest
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Tree
[ILDIS]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146457362/146457364

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Uses

Use
Environmental, Miscellaneous
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0