About Erythrina herbacea L.
Erythrina herbacea L., commonly called coral bean, grows as a low shrub or small tree. In regions where freezing does not kill the plant back, it reaches around 5 m (16 ft) in height; in other areas, it only grows to 1.2 m (3.9 ft). Stems are covered in curved spines. Its leaves are yellowish-green, 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, divided into three arrowhead-shaped leaflets that measure 2.5–8 cm (0.98–3.15 in) in length. The bark is smooth and light gray. Bright red tubular flowers grow in long spikes, with each individual flower 4–6.5 cm (1.6–2.6 in) long, and blooming occurs from April to July. Flowers are followed by 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) pods that contain bright red seeds, which gives the plant its common name. The plant forms a woody caudex. A range of toxic alkaloids, including erysopine, erysothiopine, erysothiovine, erysovine, erythrinine, erythroresin, coralin, erythric acid, and hypaphorine, occur throughout the entire plant. Leaves additionally contain erysotrine and erythrartine. Ingestion of these compounds causes paralysis that acts much like curare. Coral bean grows best in sandy soils and has moderate salt tolerance. It occurs naturally in open woods, forest clearings, hammocks, and disturbed areas. In the United States, its natural range extends from southeastern North Carolina south to Florida, and west to southeastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas. It also inhabits Tamaulipas, Mexico. Populations have been recorded in parts of the Dragoon Mountains in Southern Arizona, around the Cochise Stronghold and other older Indian archaeological sites; it is thought to have been introduced to this area through trade by the Mogollon culture, which occupied the region from 150 AD to 1400 AD, and potentially later by 19th-century Apache Indians. Further research of the surrounding area is needed to confirm the full extent of the plant's range here. Erythrina herbacea can be easily grown in gardens within its natural range. Though it is not commonly grown in gardens, it is popular among gardeners who grow it for providing early season color, its hardiness in USDA Zones 7-10, and its ability to attract hummingbirds. Native American groups used this plant for a variety of medicinal purposes, with uses varying between nations and localities: Creek women used an infusion of the root to treat bowel pain; the Choctaw used a decoction of the leaves as a general tonic; the Seminole used root extract for digestive problems, and extracts of the seeds or inner bark as an external rub for rheumatic disorders. In Mexico, the seeds are used as rat poison, while bark and leaves are made into fish poison. In some Central American countries, the flowers are used in traditional cuisine, most often added to bean soup or meat patties, and are known to have mild narcotic properties.
