Coral Bean Tree

Common Name: Coral Bean Tree, Purple Coral Tree, Swamp Erythrina, Chekring, Chengkring, Coral Tree, Gallito, Bois Immortelle, Bucayo, Bucare
Scientific Name: Erythrina fusca
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Genus: Erythrina

General Facts:

• Its legume pods reach 20 centimeters in length and contain dark brown seeds.
• It is usually planted in pastures and along fences and roads as ornamental shade trees.
• It has the widest distribution of any Erythrina species. Its legume pods can disperse across oceans and the tree can grow in a wide range of habitats.
• Its wood is weak, not durable, and scarcely suitable for lumber.
• Its new buds and leaves are eaten as vegetable, both raw and boiled.
• It attracts hummingbirds which help to pollinate its flowers.
• It contains toxic alkaloids which is poisonous in large amounts.
• Its seeds are used in folk remedies for cancer.
• Its bark is used to cure fever, hepatosis, malaria, rheumatism, toothache, and poulticing fresh wounds.
• Its boiled roots are taken internally or externally for beri-beri.