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''Erythrina caffra'', the coast coral tree or African coral tree, is a tree native to southeastern
''Erythrina caffra'' is a medium to large deciduous tree. It grows in coastal bushes and riverine forests along the south eastern coast of
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.
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.
The bark is reasonably smooth with thorns every now and then. The younger the branch the sharper the thorns.
Image:Erythrina caffra, KZN NBT, b.jpg, Close-up view, showing leaf arrangement, shape and size
Image:Erythrina caffra 01 ies.jpg, View of trunk showing prickles
Image:Erythrina Caffra flower.JPG, Inflorescence
Image:1TIE.png,
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
, which is often cultivated and has introduced populations in California and India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. All the 17 species of coral tree in the genus ''Erythrina'' are collectively considered the official tree of Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, California in the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
.
Description
''Erythrina caffra'' is a medium to large deciduous tree. It grows in coastal bushes and riverine forests along the south eastern coast of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
and up into Zululand.
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
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
The bark is reasonably smooth with thorns every now and then. The younger the branch the sharper the thorns.
Gallery
Trypsin inhibitor A trypsin inhibitor (TI) is a protein and a type of serine protease inhibitor (serpin) that reduces the biological activity of trypsin by controlling the activation and catalytic reactions of proteins. Trypsin is an enzyme involved in the breakdown ...
isolated from the seeds of Erythrina caffra
References
External links
* caffra {{Phaseoleae-stub