Erythrina latissima E.Mey.

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

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Zambezian wooded grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Tree

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree 3–8(10) m tall; bark dark grey, corky with deep longitudinal and transverse fissures; stems and branches armed with scattered large conical spines up to 1 cm long.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets with scattered prickles along nerves; terminal leaflet deltate to oblate, often broader than long, 7–25 × 6–30 cm; laterals 6–22 × 7–22 cm, broadly ovate to deltate, the base often somewhat asymmetric; petiole 12–30 cm long, glabrous when mature, rarely with one or two prickles; rhachis 6–15 cm long, tomentose when young becoming glabrous; petiolules 4–20 mm long, tomentose; stipules 6–8 × 4–5 mm, ovate; stipels minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a terminal pseudoraceme produced before or with young leaves; peduncle 15–24(30) cm long, densely pale tomentose; rhachis 4.5–9 cm long, with the flowers in fascicles; bracts 1.2–2 cm long, linear-obovate, densely white tomentose, membranous; pedicels 7–9 mm long, villous; bracteoles 1.4–2 cm long, linear, villous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx spathaceous, 5-lobed, split fully abaxially by the emergent corolla; tube 1.3–3 cm long; lobes 7–18 mm long, narrowly-cylindrical to filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla scarlet save white margins of wings, glabrous; standard 4.5–5.5 × 2.8–3.3 cm, oblong-elliptic, reflexed back to expose the stamens; wings 2.2–2.5 × 1–1.2 cm; keel petals free, 1.7–2 × 1.3–1.5 cm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Vexillary stamen fused along a quarter of its length, others fused into a tube along one-third to half their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 1.5–2 cm long, narrowly cylindrical-filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 18–25 × 2–3 cm, falcate, moniliform becoming glabrous at maturity, (1)3–4(6)-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds red, reniform, 11–15 × 9–10 × 6–7 mm; hilum black, 7–8 mm long, broadly elliptic.