MundoAndino Home : Bolivia Guide at Mundo Andino
Erythrina fusca
Related topics:
Trees of Bolivia
Trees of Colombia
Trees of Ecuador
Trees of Peru
Trees of Venezuela
Trees of Bolivia Forum
Erythrina fusca is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is known by many common names, including purple coraltree, gallito, bois immortelle, bucayo, and the more ambiguous "bucare" and "coral bean". E. fusca has the widest distribution of any Erythrina species; it is the only one found in both the New and Old World. It grows on coasts and along rivers in tropical Asia, Oceania, the Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, Africa, and the Neotropics.
E. fusca is a deciduous tree with spiny bark and light orange flowers. Its legume pods reach in length and contain dark brown seeds. The seeds are buoyant, allowing them disperse across oceans. The tree is highly adapted to coastal conditions, tolerant of both flooding and salinity.
Like many other species in the genus Erythrina, E. fusca contains toxic alkaloids which have been utilized for medicinal value but are poisonous in larger amounts. The most common alkaloid is erythraline, which is named for the genus. The new buds and leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The easy-to-grow and attractive flowering tree is cultivated as an ornamental shade and hedge plant. It is a common shade tree in cacao plantations. It attracts hummingbirds, which pollinate its flowers.
E. fusca is the official flower of the Venezuelan state of Trujillo.
External links
USDA Plants Profile
New Crops Info Page
Genus Erythrina
Study: E. fusca as a protein supplement for cattle
www.waynesword.palomar.edu
Need more information for your travel research or homework?
Ask your questions at the forum about Trees of Bolivia or help others to find answers.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Erythrina fusca
