''Erythrina fusca'' is a species of Flowering plant, 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 World, New and Old World. It grows on coasts and along rivers in tropical Asia, Oceania, the Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, Africa, and the Neotropical realm, Neotropics.
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 Pollinator, pollinate its flowers.
''E. fusca'' is the official flower of the Venezuelan state of Trujillo (state), Trujillo.
Description
''E. fusca'' is a deciduous tree with spiny Bark (botany), bark and light orange flowers. Its legume pods reach in length and contain dark brown seeds. The seeds are Buoyancy, buoyant, allowing them Drift seed, disperse across oceans. The tree is highly adapted to coastal conditions, tolerant of both flooding and Halophyte, salinity.
Like many other species in the genus ''Erythrina'', ''E. fusca'' contains Toxin, 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.
As food
The new buds and leaves are eaten as a vegetable. In Thailand fresh ''Erythrina fusca'' ( th, ทองหลาง) leaves are often eaten in Miang kham ( th, ทองหลาง).
[[ftp://smc.ssk.ac.th/intranet/Research_AntioxidativeThaiVegetable/www/Native_veg/v142.html ทองหลาง]]
References
External links
New Crops Info Page
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1247964
Erythrina, fusca
Trees of the Amazon
Pantropical flora
Flora of Tanzania
Flora of the Western Indian Ocean
Flora of tropical Asia
Trees of Central America
Trees of the Caribbean
Trees of northern South America
Trees of Brazil
Trees of western South America
Trees of Africa
Trees of the Pacific
Flora without expected TNC conservation status