Broad-leaved coral tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Broad-leaved Coral Tree
• Cork Tree
• Lucky Bean Tree
• Broad-Leaved Erythrina
• Broad-Leaved Luckybean
• Broadleaf Coral Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Corallodendron latissimum
• Erythrina gibbsiae
• Erythrina sandersonii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Erythrina latissima is characterized by its presence across a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, allowing it to occupy varied montane and lowland niches. It is typically found inhabiting environments within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 150 m AMSL to a maximum of 1550 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal distribution suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling the species to thrive in different microclimates and soil compositions found between low-lying coastal or riverine areas and higher mid-elevation slopes.

Elevational range max:

1550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Erythrina latissima is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a long-lived woody plant, it establishes a robust structural foundation that allows it to endure environmental fluctuations over many years. Its developmental stages involve a period of initial establishment following germination, followed by sustained vegetative growth that contributes to its substantial biomass. Because it follows a perennial lifecycle, the plant undergoes repeated cycles of seasonal growth and flowering, often synchronizing its reproductive efforts with specific environmental cues to ensure successful pollination and seed dispersal over its extended lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Erythrina latissima is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that maintains a self-supporting structure. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a significant vertical presence, with a height ranging from a minimum of 3 meters to a maximum of 12 meters. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, supporting its development as a substantial tree within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erythrina latissima is characterized by a metabolic framework optimized for temperate to subtropical environments, primarily utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, a mechanism that allows the plant to maximize growth efficiency under conditions where water availability is sufficient and temperatures are not excessively high. This C3 pathway dictates its transpiration rates and stomatal conductance, as the plant must balance gas exchange for carbon assimilation against the risk of photorespiration. Additionally, its physiological processes are supported by a robust vascular system designed to transport nutrients and water to its large, compound leaves, ensuring that the photosynthetic machinery remains hydrated to sustain the energy requirements for its flowering and reproductive cycles.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erythrina latissima has 4 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf, root, stem.

Seed

1. Journal of protein chemistry
2. The Journal of biological chemistry
3. Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift fur physiologische Chemie
4. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Journal of AOAC International

Stem

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Erythrina latissima has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Erysotramidine, (+)-Erysotrine, (+)-Erythraline, (+)-erysodine, DE 1.

(+)-Erysotramidine

1. Journal of natural products

(+)-Erysotrine

1. Journal of natural products

(+)-Erythraline

1. Journal of natural products

(+)-erysodine

1. Journal of natural products

DE 1

1. Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift fur physiologische Chemie

Isoflavonoids

1. Fitoterapia

Preparations

Erythrina latissima has 5 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Seeds, root wood, seed, seeds, stem bark.

Seeds

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Root wood

1. Journal of AOAC International

Seed

1. Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift fur physiologische Chemie

Seeds

1. Journal of natural products

Stem bark

1. Fitoterapia