FABACEAE

Erythrina humeana

Dwarf Coral-tree

Trees & Shrubs

Local Context

Occurs in rocky areas and along drainage lines in Raptor's View. Easily identified when the beautiful flowers are blooming.

Identification

Growth: Small shrub or tree (0.5–4 m tall) growing from a woody rootstock, with ash-grey branches armed with scattered prickles.
Flowers: Bright scarlet or red, arranged in many-flowered clusters (up to 50 cm long) at the ends of branches or in leaf axils; they appear at the same time as the leaves and point downwards when open.
Leaves: Divided into three leaflets that are broadly egg-shaped or arrowhead-shaped (up to 13.5 cm long); the leaf stalks usually have prickles.
Texture: Young parts and flower bases are covered in rusty-brown hairs, but mature leaves are mostly smooth and hairless except for a few prickles along the main veins.
Fruit: A woody, black, sickle-shaped pod (10–25 cm long) that is smooth and deeply constricted between the seeds (beaded), containing bright red or scarlet seeds.

Did You Know?

In Zulu culture, coral trees are regarded as royal trees and were traditionally planted on the graves of chiefs. Unlike its larger cousins whose aggressive roots can lift pavements, the Dwarf Coral Tree has a non-invasive root system, making it safe for small gardens, large pots, and even bonsai culture.

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