Erythrina latissima
Broad-leaved coral tree
Erythrina latissima, commonly known as the Coral Tree, is a striking medicinal plant native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its vibrant red blossoms, it holds significant ethnobotanical value. Various parts of the tree are traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive issues.
- Scientific name: Erythrina latissima
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Erythrina, with the specific species name being latiessima.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Erythrina | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Erythrina latissima, is referred to by several different common names depending on the language. In English, it is called the Broad-leaved coral tree, while in Afrikaans, it is known as the Breëblaarkooraalboom, and in Persian, it is called فردوسی پهنبرگ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| af | Breëblaarkoraalboom | Wikidata |
| fa | فردوسی پهنبرگ | Wikidata |
| en | Broad-leaved coral tree | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the African continent. In South Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in both Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Moving into the Southern Africa region, it can be found growing in Botswana. The species also extends its range into the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Additionally, it is known to inhabit the coastal and inland areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Botswana | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Erythrina latissima, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The leaves serve as a primary part of the foliage, while the stem bark and the dense root wood are often harvested for their specific bioactive properties. Furthermore, the reproductive structures include both the individual seed and the collective seeds, which are frequently studied for their potential therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root wood | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Erythrina latissima has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-erysodine, (+)-erysotramidine, (+)-erysotrine, (+)-erythraline, DE-1.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-erysodine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-erysotramidine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-erysotrine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-erythraline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DE-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoflavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |