Luckybean Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Luckybean Tree
• Redhot Poker Tree
• erythrina

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chirocalyx abyssinicus
• Corallodendron abyssinicum
• Corallodendron huillense
• Corallodendron suberifera
• Erythrina tomentosa
• Erythrina abyssinica subsp. suberifera
• Erythrina platyphylla
• Erythrina bequaertii
• Erythrina tomentosa var. longicauda
• Erythrina warneckei
• Chirocalyx tomentosus
• Chirocalyx mollissimus
• Erythrina mossambicensis
• Erythrina huillensis
• Erythrina kassneri
• Erythrina comosa
• Erythrina eggelingii
• Erythrina webberi
• Erythrina pelligera
• Erythrina suberifera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Erythrina, to which the species Erythrina abyssinica belongs.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable presence within the diverse landscapes of West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of Burundi and Rwanda. Its distribution also extends through the vast regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Furthermore, the species reaches into Northeast Tropical Africa. Within this northernmost area, the plant is documented to occur in Eritrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Erythrina abyssinica is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution and specialized microhabitats. This species typically thrives within an elevational range starting from 950 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1100 m AMSL. Within this montane belt, the plant demonstrates a unique ecological preference for colonizing giant termite mounds, which likely provide a specialized nutrient-rich substrate or specific soil drainage conditions essential for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

950 m AMSL

Habitat :

giant termite mounds

Life history

The life history of Erythrina abyssinica is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural strategy that defines its life form. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, which is often a physiological response to seasonal changes or moisture availability.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Erythrina abyssinica is characterized by its stature as a woody tree with a self-supporting growth form. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The species exhibits significant variability in size, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 11 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

11 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erythrina abyssinicа is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native environments. Furthermore, this species functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, thereby enhancing its nutritional uptake and contributing to the nitrogen enrichment of the surrounding soil ecosystem.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erythrina abyssinica is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The dispersal of its seeds follows an autochorous syndrome, where the plant utilizes internal mechanisms for seed dispersal. The seeds produced by this species exhibit specific mass variations, with a recorded minimum seed mass of 0.286 g, a maximum seed mass of 0.46512 g, and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.37556 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.46512 g

Seed mass mean:

0.37556 g

Seed mass min:

0.286 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erythrina abyssinica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, root.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
3. Journal of parasitology research
4. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Planta medica
2. African health sciences

Chemicals

Erythrina abyssinica has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Glycosides, Tannins, Terpenoids, 11-Methoxyerysodine.

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Frontiers in molecular biosciences
3. Planta medica

Glycosides

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Tannins

1. African health sciences
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Terpenoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

11-Methoxyerysodine

1. Natural product research

7,4'-dihydroxy-2',5'-dimethoxyisoflav-3-ene

1. Planta medica

8-Oxoerythraline

1. Natural product research

Abyssinoflavanone IV

1. Journal of natural products

Abyssinoflavanone V

1. Journal of natural products

Abyssinone V 4'-methyl ether

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Erythrina abyssinica has 11 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antifungal.

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Frontiers in molecular biosciences
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antibacterial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticancer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifungal

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antihyperglycemic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimicrobial

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Antiobesity

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiplasmodial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiproliferative

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Erythrina abyssinica has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, Acinetobacter baumannii, HIV-1, HSV-2, Mycobacterium avium.

Malaria

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Journal of parasitology research

Acinetobacter baumannii

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Hiv-1

1. Natural product research

Hsv-2

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mycobacterium avium

1. African health sciences

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. African health sciences

Astrocytosis

1. Metabolic brain disease

Breast cancer

1. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare

Fever

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hepatitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Erythrina abyssinica has 14 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark, Aqueous extracts, Crude extracts of root bark, Erythrina suberosa bark extract, MeOH extract.

Stem bark

1. Journal of parasitology research
2. Journal of natural products

Aqueous extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Crude extracts of root bark

1. African health sciences

Erythrina suberosa bark extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Meoh extract

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Crude extract

1. Planta medica

Crude root bark extracts

1. African health sciences

Extracts

1. Frontiers in toxicology

Methanol extract

1. Metabolic brain disease

Methanolic (eam)

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences