Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Narcotic; Purgative.
Plants for a Future (2016) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Erythrina+crista-galli link

Other use

Erythrina berteroana flowers are used particularly in black bean soup (made in El Salvador)....and yes. "I have recollections of taking a siesta after the soup and finding myself glued to the bed. Literally unable to get up even after a few hours sleep when the brain was saying: "you've had enough sleep" and even when we had taken the precaution to boil the flowers and throw the first brew away otherwise I'd probably still be asleep."
Roxana Summers. Pers. Comm. - Oral history, May 2015

Argentina's national tree.
Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) at www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Toxicity

Contains alkaloids that have powerful narcotic and purgative effects. The seeds of all members of this genus are said to be poisonous.
Plants for a Future (2016) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Erythrina+crista-galli link

Geographical distribution

  • Southern America, Brazil
  • Southern America, Southern South America, Argentina Northeast
  • Southern America, Southern South America, Argentina Northwest
  • Southern America, Southern South America, Argentina South
  • Southern America, Southern South America, Paraguay
  • Southern America, Southern South America, Uruguay
  • Southern America, Western South America, Bolivia

Erythrina crista-galli L.

Family: FABACEAE
Genus: Erythrina
Species: crista-galli L.
Common names: Ceibo; Cockspur Coraltree; Cry-baby Tree; Seibo
Distribution summary: Brazil, W.& S.S.America
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H3 - Half hardy; unheated greenhouse/mild winter
Habitat: Wet woodland, wasteland, river banks
Garden status: Not currently grown
Flowering months: July, August, September
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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