Common Name: coralbean

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Tree

General: Usually a small to medium sized shrub, but can reach 4.5 m tall; often only leafless, spiny branches; branches thick, light tan, with short, solitary spines paired at the nodes.

Leaves: Branches bear pinnate leaves with triangular leaflets, usually 3, usually broader than long, rounded off at apex, 4-7 cm long, 5-10 cm broad.

Flowers: Terminal raceme of red papilionoid flowers, calyx 7-9 mm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, with warty gland present at apex of lower side; stamens as long as the banner.

Fruits: Pod 15-25 cm long, about 1 cm thick, bearing bright red seeds.

Ecology: Found on rocky slopes, in canyons and along washes from 3,000-5,500 ft (914-1676 m); flowers spring and early summer.

Distribution: s AZ, s NM; south to c MEX.

Notes: This plant is usually a medium sized shrub, the light brown bark has longitudinal white lines, and the showy red tubular flowers appear before the leaves in spring; especially distinct are the bright-red beans which are displayed as the pods splay open in dehiscence.

Ethnobotany: Distinctively red seeds are known to be poisonous, but they make beautiful necklaces.

Etymology: Erythrina comes from Green erythros, red, or reddish, while flabelliformis means shaped like a small fan, referring to the leaves.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015