Erythrina
(from erythros, red; referring to the colour of the flowers). Coral-tree. ORD. Leguminosae. A genus of about thirty species of trees and shrubs, principally natives of tropical regions in both the New World and the Old, and at the Cape. Flowers coral-red, large, in dense racemes, produced usually before the development of the large leaves (in a few species, on the ends of the annual shoots); calyx split, spathaceous, bilabiate; petals very unequal; standard large; upper stamen free to the base, or sometimes connate with the others half-way up the filaments; anthers uniform. Pod linear, turgid, torulose. Leaves constantly trifoliolate.
Cultivation. All the Erythrinas like a strong loamy soil, an abundance of water when not at rest, and exposure to bright sunlight. The tree and shrubby-stemmed species should be kept growing all summer in a warm house, and treated liberally, so as to induce vigorous growth. In September, water should be gradually withheld, so that the wood may ripen, the leaves fall off, and the plants go to rest for the winter. Early in spring, they should be repotted or top-dressed, placed in a hot, moist temperature, and supplied with plenty of water at the roots. This treatment should cause them to produce their large racemes of gorgeous flowers. If it be necessary to cut away any of the branches, it should not be done till after the flowers are over, as these are developed on the ripened wood of the previous year. The herbaceous-stemmed species, E. crista-galli and E. herbacea, form a stout rootstock, from which shoots are annually produced, and upon these the flowers are borne in autumn. Both these kinds should be started in heat, in spring, unless when planted out of doors, in which case they may be left to start themselves on the approach of warm weather. For pot specimens, however, a little extra heat assists the rootstocks, and is conducive to the free production of shoots. As these increase in strength, a lower temperature will be sufficient, till, finally, the plants may be placed out of doors for the summer. By taking off the young shoots with a heel, in spring, and inserting them in sandy soil, on a little bottom heat, a stock is easily obtained. After flowering, the shoots die down, when the plants may be placed under stages in cool houses, where they can be kept dry and at rest till the following spring. Erythrinas, planted out of doors, require a covering of leaves or cocoa-nut fibre, to protect the boles from frost.
E. Corallodendron (Coral-tree). fl. deep scarlet, large, in long racemes, appearing when the leaves have fallen. May and June. l., leaflets broad, rhomboid-ovate, acute; petioles unarmed. Stem arboreous, prickly. h. 6ft. to 12ft. West Indies, 1690. SYN. E. spinosa.
E. crista-galli (Cockscomb).* Common Coral-tree. fl. bright deep scarlet, disposed in large terminal racemes. May to July. l., leaflets oval or ovate, glaucescent, coriaceous, bluntish; petioles prickly, glandular. Stems woody. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Brazil, 1771. This fine species is by far the most frequently cultivated one. In the southern counties, it is almost hardy. SYN. E. laurifolia. (B. M. 2161.)
E. glauca (glaucous). fl. copper-coloured. Summer. l., leaflets ovate, glaucous beneath; petioles almost unarmed. Stem arboreous, prickly. h. 10ft. South America, 1819.
E. herbacea (herbaceous). fl. deep scarlet, distant; racemes elongated. June to September. l., leaflets ovate or somewhat hastate. Branches herbaceous, annual, and, as well as the leaves, unarmed and glabrous. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Carolina, 1724. (B. M. 877.) E. Bidwilli is a hybrid between E. herbacea and E. cristagalli, with annual shoots, and axillary and terminal spicate flowers.
E. Humei (Hume's). fl. brilliant scarlet, fading to purple, in a sub-verticillate spike; peduncles axillary, longer than the leaves, erect, rounded, studded with white, linear warts. l. ternate, rhomb-shaped, acuminate, with an obtuse point; petioles alternate, horizontal, longer than the leaves, armed with a few distant prickles. Stem erect, woody. h. 30ft. to 60ft. South Africa. A very elegant stove tree. (B. M. 2431, under name of E. caffra.)
E. indica (Indian).* fl. of a splendid scarlet colour. l., leaflets broad-ovate, acute, glabrous; petioles unarmed. Stem arboreous, prickly; spines black. h. 20ft. to 30ft. East Indies, 1814. There is a handsome white-flowered form of this species.
E. i. marmorata (marbled). l. large, broad, blotched and spotted with white in a very effective manner. Polynesia, 1879. An elegant variegated plant.
E. i. Parcelli (Parcell's). l. alternate; leaflets three, with a yellow variegation, sometimes forming a feather-like stripe along the costa and main veins, sometimes more diffused, and forming a band 1in. wide. Stem stout, woody. South Sea Islands. for which we are indebted to Mr. Wm. Bull.
E. laurifolia (laurel-leaved). A synonym of E. crista-galli.
E. speciosa (showy). fl. deep crimson; racemes and calyces velvety. August to October. l., leaflets broad, slightly three-lobed, acuminated, glabrous; petioles and ribs of leaves prickly. Stems shrubby, prickly. h. 6ft. to 10ft. West Indies, 1805. (A. B. R. 443.)
E. spinosa (spinous). A synonym of E. Corallodendron.
Other very good garden forms, chiefly of E. crista-galli, are: Cottyana, flowers deep rich red; floribunda, flowers rosy-crimson; Madame Belanger, flowers velvety, rich dark reddish-crimson; ornata, flowers dark vermilion; ruberrima, flowers large, brilliant crimson, rosy-tinted; spectabilis, leaves with fine bold variegation, markings chiefly yellow.