Erythrina afra

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Erythrina afra, the coast coral tree or African coral tree, is a tree native to southeastern Africa, which is often cultivated and has introduced populations in California and India.[3][4] All the 17 species of coral tree in the genus Erythrina are collectively considered the official tree of Los Angeles, California in the United States.[5]

Erythrina afra
Growth habit of a mature tree
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Erythrina
Species:
E. afra
Binomial name
Erythrina afra
Map
Erythrina afra distribution
  Extant (resident)
Synonyms[2]
  • Erythrina fissa C.Presl
  • Duchassaingia afra (Thunb.) Walp.
  • Chirocalyx pubescens Walp.
  • Erythrina insignis Tod.
  • Erythrina viarum Tod.
  • Corallodendron afrum (Thunb.) Kuntze
  • Erythrina constantiana Micheli
  • Erythrina caffra Thumb. (emended)

Description

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Erythrina afra free growth habit

Erythrina afra is a medium to large deciduous tree. It grows in coastal bushes and riverine forests along the southeastern coast of South Africa and up into Zululand.

Leaves

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Leaves

The compound leaves are made up of three leaflets. Each leaflet is broadly ovate to elliptical. The leaflets do not have prickles and are hairless.

Flowers

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Flower

The flowers are made up of a main petal and four small petals. The main petal curves back to expose the stamens. The flower colour is warm red to scarlet. This is one of the main differences between Erythrina caffra and Erythrina lysistemon. The flowers form stalked axillary racemes up to 100mm long.

Trunk

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Erythrina afra trunk

The bark on the plant or tree is relatively smooth with intermittent thorns, and the thorns tend to be sharper on younger branches.

Taxonomy

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The original etymology of the species name caffra is related to kaffir, an ethnic slur used towards black people in Africa. At the July 2024 International Botanical Congress, a vote was held with the result that "caffra" related names will be amended to afra related ones, with this being implemented at the end of July 2024.[6]

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References

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  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2020). "Erythrina caffra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T146457362A146457364. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T146457362A146457364.en. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Erythrina caffra Thunb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Erythrina caffra". ILDIS World Database of Legumes, version 10.01.
  4. ^ Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation, Board on Science and Technology for International Development, Commission on International Relations, National Research Council (1979). Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future. National Academy of Sciences. p. 258.
  5. ^ Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation, Board on Science and Technology for International Development, Commission on International Relations, National Research Council (1979). Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future. National Academy of Sciences. p. 258.
  6. ^ McKie, Robin (2024-07-20). "Botanists vote to remove racist reference from plants' scientific names". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
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