Where to find Sacred Coral-trees, Erythrina lysistemon, easily:

Sacred Coral-trees, Erythrina lysistemon are found growing among other species of trees. It is easiest to find in low-lying, dune, riverine and swamp forests of northern KwaZulu-Natal. It can also be found in savannah, woodland and in moist grassland and rocky hillslopes of the northern Drakensberg and the Bushveld.

AFRIKAANS Gewone Koraalboom N. SOTHO Mokhupye, Mmalê, Mokhungwane SISWATI umSisi TSONGA Nsisimbane, Muvale TSWANA Mophêthê VENDA Muvhale XHOSA umSintsi ZULU umSinsi

• This is a single-trunked tree that forms a moderate, rounded canopy, with large branches visible among the leaves.
• The bark is pale grey-brown and smooth in-between shallow, longitudinal grooves and dark, slightly hooked thorns on the trunk and branches.
• Three-leaflet Compound leaves have three heart-shaped leaflets, the terminal one being distinctly larger, with a longer leaflet-stem.
• Leaf-stems are long and may carry scattered thorns.
• Red flowers are aloe-like and conspicuous in winter and early spring on the leafless tree.
• Bumpy bean pods burst open on the tree to reveal the characteristic black and red seeds (Sep - Feb).

Seasonal Changes

Deciduous. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. The trees can often still be identified by their bark, thorns and pods even when no leaves or flowers are present.

Growth Form

Height: 2 - 18 m
Density: Sparse

There are four common Coral-trees in South Africa and their leaves are different enough to help you identify them. Their flowers too are slightly different shapes and colours.

Sacred Coral-tree Erythrina lysistemon

Coast Coral-tree Erythrina caffra

Broad-leaved Coral-tree Erythrina latissima

Dwarf Coral-tree Erythrina humeana

Leaves

The leaves are alternate and are crowded towards the ends of the branchlets and twigs. The dark green leaflets have smooth margins, and the central vein is prominent on both surfaces. New leaves are a bright, pale green (Leaf: 60 - 220 mm; end leaflet: 110 - 125 mm; side leaflets: 80 - 110 mm; leaf-stems: 160 mm).

Conspicuous, erect, red flower-spikes appear before the leaves in winter and early spring. The tightly packed, tubular flowers consist of a large, tube-like petal enclosing the stamens and smaller petals so that they are not visible (Jun - Oct)
(Spike: 90 mm; individual: 40 - 60 mm).

Bark

the bark is pale grey-brown and smooth in-between shallow, longitudinal grooves and dark, slightly hooked thorns on the trunk and branches.

Thorns

The slightly hooked thorns are dark brown, with a broad base and very sharp point, resembling those of a rose. Thorns are sparsely scattered on the main trunk and branches, but are much closer together on the smaller branchlets and twigs (3 - 7 mm).

Pods

Tightly constricted pods hang in clusters. The seeds are ofen called ‘lucky beans’. Fruit remains on the tree for long periods (Sep - Feb) (90 - 200 x 11 - 15 mm).

Gardening

This is a very attractive, fast-growing tree. It is easily cultivated from seed and may flower within a year. Fairly drought-resistant, it will stand several degrees of frost.

Human uses

Canoes and troughs are made from hollowed trunks, and the wood is used as floats for fishing nets. It has many medicinal uses: a poultice of the bark is used for toothache; an infusion of leaves for ear drops to relieve earache; crushed leaves clear the maggots from infested wounds and counteract inflammation. A branch from this tree growing near a man’s hut was often planted on his grave, and the seeds are often still used as lucky charms.

Links with animals

The leaves are eaten by Black Rhino, elephant, baboons, kudu, nyala and klipspringer. Unripe seeds are a favourite of Brown-headed Parrots. Many insects are attracted to the tree when it flowers, and Vervet Monkeys regard flower-buds as a delicacy. Nectar in flowers attracts many sunbirds such as the Greater Double-collared, Collared, Olive, Scarlet-chested and Grey Sunbirds.

For more information on this tree and a wealth of other trees you can find in KwaZulu-Natal get a copy of Sappi Tree Spotting KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. All artwork by Joan van Gogh.