Indian Coral Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian Coral Tree
• coraltree
• India coralbean
• sunshine tree
• tiger's claw

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chirocalyx divaricatus
• Chirocalyx pictus
• Erythrina variegata var. alba
• Erythrina variegata var. orientalis
• Erythrina variegata f. orientalis
• Erythrina variegata f. picta
• Corallodendron spathaceum
• Erythrina fitzalanii
• Erythrina alba
• Erythrina variegata f. marmorata
• Erythrina variegata f. mysorensis
• Erythrina variegata f. parcellii
• Tetradapa javanorum
• Corallodendron divaricatum
• Erythrina variegata f. alba
• Erythrina spathacea
• Erythrina rostrata
• Corallodendron orientale
• Erythrina panduriformis
• Erythrina parcellii
• Erythrina phlebocarpa
• Erythrina picta
• Erythrina indica
• Erythrina indica var. alba
• Erythrina indica var. phlebocarpa
• Erythrina divaricata
• Erythrina corallodendron var. orientalis
• Erythrina lobulata
• Erythrina marmorata
• Erythrina loureiroi
• Erythrina orientalis
• Erythrina boninensis
• Chirocalyx indicus
• Corallodendron lobulatum
• Erythrina indica var. fastigiata

Regional and Traditional Names

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 a member of the Fabaceae family. Specifically, it is classified under the genus Erythrina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several regions across the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence can be noted in Egypt. Its range extends to the Macaronesian islands, specifically including Cape Verde. Within West Tropical Africa, the species is found in both Nigeria and Senegal. Finally, it reaches into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Erythrina variegata is characterized by its adaptation to low-to-mid altitude environments, spanning an elevational range from 1 m to 900 m AMSL. It is typically found thriving within specific coastal and tropical ecosystems, specifically occupying habitats such as beach forests and coastal deciduous forests. This distribution pattern suggests a preference for maritime-influenced climates and seasonal moisture regimes typical of these forest types.

Elevational range max:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1 m AMSL

Habitat :

beach forest, coastal deciduous forest

Life history

The life history of Erythrina variegata is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial branches well above the ground, establishing it as a woody species with a robust structural presence. The plant exhibits a deciduous habit, meaning it undergoes a period of leaf shedding, which is a key component of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Erythrina variegata is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial, independent species that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. As a self-supporting organism, it lacks the climbing habits of lianas or vines, maintaining a sturdy structural integrity. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 3 meters to a maximum of 15 meters, though it can reach an average height of approximately 20 meters under optimal conditions.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erythrina variegata is characterized by several distinct biological mechanisms and morphological adaptations. As a member of the Fabaceae family, it functions as a nitrogen fixer, engaging in a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plant growth. Its metabolic processes follow a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many woody tropical species. Morphologically, the plant lacks succulence, maintaining a standard non-succulent tissue structure. The foliage exhibits significant variability in size, with leaves measuring a minimum length of 4 cm and reaching a maximum length of 25 cm, while the width of the leaves ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 30 cm.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

30 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erythrina variegata is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically adapted for birds, which is signaled by its vibrant red flower colour. Following successful pollination, the plant develops distinctive fruits that range in length from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. Within these fruits, the seed production is relatively modest, typically yielding between 1 and 10 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves vary in size, with a minimum length of 12 mm and a maximum length of 16 mm, and a width ranging from 9 mm to 10 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds show significant variation, with a minimum mass of 0.18519 g, a mean mass of 0.3957575 g, and a maximum mass of 0.58824 g. Once mature, the dispersal of these seeds follows a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the primary mechanism for movement and colonization.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

red

Fruit length max:

30 cm

Fruit length min:

8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

bird

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

16 mm

Seed length min:

12 mm

Seed mass max:

0.58824 g

Seed mass mean:

0.3957575 g

Seed mass min:

0.18519 g

Seed width max:

10 mm

Seed width min:

9 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erythrina variegata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root, leaf, stem.

Seed

1. Journal of biochemistry
2. Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology
3. Canadian journal of biochemistry
4. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
5. FEBS letters

Root

1. Phytochemistry
2. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Parasitology research

Stem

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Erythrina variegata has 57 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lectin, lactose, N-acetyllactosamine, EBI, galactose.

Lectin

1. European journal of biochemistry
2. Journal of molecular biology
3. The Journal of biological chemistry
4. Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology
5. Canadian journal of biochemistry

lactose

1. Journal of biochemistry
2. Biochemistry
3. Science (New York, N.Y.)
4. The Journal of biological chemistry
5. European journal of biochemistry

N-acetyllactosamine

1. Biochemistry
2. The Journal of biological chemistry
3. European journal of biochemistry

EBI

1. Journal of biochemistry
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

galactose

1. Science (New York, N.Y.)
2. European journal of biochemistry

1-(4-Hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoyloxy)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-1-ol

1. Journal of natural products

2'-Fucosyllactose

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6-(3,3-dimethylallyloxiranylmethyl)isoflavone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

8-Prenyldaidzein

1. Journal of natural products

CAMPESTEROL

1. Lloydia

Activities

Erythrina variegata has 5 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidiabetic, Antipyretic, Anxiolytic, Sedative.

Analgesic

1. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Antidiabetic

1. Omics : a journal of integrative biology

Antipyretic

1. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Anxiolytic

1. ACS omega

Sedative

1. ACS omega

Medicinal Uses

Erythrina variegata has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, antipyretic, anxiety, chymotrypsin, insomnia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations