Erythrina crista-galli

Species of legume

"Seibo" redirects here. For the place, see El Seibo Province and El Seibo, Dominican Republic.

Erythrina crista-galli

Flowers

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Apparently Secure (NatureServe)

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Plantae
Clade:  | Tracheophytes
Clade:  | Angiosperms
Clade:  | Eudicots
Clade:  | Rosids
Order:  | Fabales
Family:  | Fabaceae
Subfamily:  | Faboideae
Genus:  | Erythrina
Species:  |

E. crista-galli

Binomial name
Erythrina crista-galli

Synonyms[2]

List

* Corallodendron crista-galli (L.) Kuntze
* Erythrina crista-galli L. var. hasskarlii Backer
* Erythrina crista-galli L. var. leucochlora Lombardo
* Erythrina fasciculata Benth.
* Erythrina laurifolia Jacq.
* Erythrina pulcherrima Tod.
* Erythrina speciosa Tod. (However, E. speciosa Andrews is a distinct species.)
* Micropteryx crista-galli Walp.
* Micropteryx fasciculata Walp.
* Micropteryx laurifolia Walp.

Erythrina crista-galli, also known as the cockspur coral tree or ceibo, is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae, native to Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil and Paraguay. It is widely planted as a street or garden tree in other countries, notably in California. Its specific epithet crista-galli means "cock's comb" in Latin.

It is is the national tree of Argentina, and its flower the national flower of Argentina and Uruguay.

## Description[edit]

A tree blooming in Brisbane, Australia

Erythrina crista-galli is a small tree, the girth of its trunk measuring 50 cm (20 in). Normally it grows 5–8 m (16–26 ft) tall, although some individuals, such as in the Argentine provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán, can grow up to 10 m (33 ft). The woody trunk of the tree is equipped with irregular and thorny branches and can reach 50 cm in circumference.

The root is a taproot with nodules produced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The bacteria live in symbiosis with the tree, facilitating the tree's absorption of nitrogen in return for organic substances which the bacteria need. The tree's trunk is woody with irregular, spiny branches. These branches form a layer without definite form[3] and die after flowering.

### Flowers and fruit[edit]

Flowers A tree in an urban park in Rosario, Argentina

The red flower, arranged in inflorescences of the raceme type, is pentameric, complete, and of bilateral symmetry. Its calyx is gamosepalous, like a little red thimble. The corolla, like that of other legumes like common beans, is butterfly-shaped; however, the largest petal, called the "standard", is arranged in the lower part. The two of the petals called "wings" are so small that they are practically hidden within the calyx. The remaining two petals partially fuse together on occasion and form the flower's keel or "carina"; this protects its reproductive organs. The androecium consists of ten stamens, one free and nine united by their filaments (gynostemial androecium). The unicarpel gynoecium is welded between the stamens like a knife in its sheath.

The tree flowers in the summer, from October to April in their native South America and from April to October in the northern hemisphere. It usually blooms from November to February.

The flowers are rich in nectar and are visited by insects, which usually have to crawl underneath the carina and thus pollinate the flowers.

Seeds

The tree's fruit is a legume, a dry pod a few centimeters in length derived from a single carpel and contains about 8-10 chestnut-brown bean-shaped seeds. The cotyledons are hypogeal, staying underground upon germination.

## Cultivation[edit]

In cultivation in the United Kingdom this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[4][5] In urban settings, it is often planted in parks for its bright red flowers.

## Distribution[edit]

It is distributed throughout northeastern and central western Argentina, eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, much of Paraguay, and almost all of Uruguay. It lives in low, flood-prone places, and along the watercourses of the Chaco and the Eastern Region. It does not inhabit high forests or dry places without floods, as it tolerates water-saturated soils very well.

This species characteristically grows wild in gallery forest ecosystems along watercourses, as well as in swamps and wetlands.

## Uses[edit]

It has dyeing and medicinal applications: its bark is used to treat rheumatism wounds and serves as a diuretic antispasmodic; its resin can cure intestinal diseases; Its leaves contain camphor comma that helps wound healing and has anti-inflammatory properties for tumors.[6]

## References[edit]

This article draws heavily on the corresponding article in the Spanish-language Wikipedia.

1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Erythrina crista-galli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T144285016A149059795. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
2. ^ International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005): Erythrina crista-galli. Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
3. ^ "Erythrina crista-galli (Cockspur Coral Tree)". Taranaki Educational Resource Research Analysis and Information Network. February 2015.
4. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Erythrina crista-galli". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
5. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 37. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
6. ^ Weber, Daniela; Gorzalczany, Susana; Martino, Virginia; Acevedo, Cristina; Sterner, Olov; Anke, Timm (1 June 2005). Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. Vol. 60\. pp. 467–477. doi:10.1515/znc-2005-5-616. ISSN 1865-7125. Retrieved 27 March 2024.

* Pink, Alfred (1904): Gardening for the Million. Fisher Unwin, London. TXT and HTML fulltexts at Project Gutenberg.

## External links[edit]

Media related to Erythrina crista-galli at Wikimedia Commons

* (in Spanish) Día de la Flor Nacional (National Flower Day) - from Argentina's Ministry of Health and Environment website (scientific description, pictures).

* v
* t
* e

National symbols of Argentina

* National flag (List of flags)
* Coat of arms
* Cockade
* Sun of May
* Himno Nacional Argentino (National anthem)
* En unión y libertad (Motto)
* Logo
* José de San Martín (Father of the Fatherland)
* Effigy of the Republic \- Gaucho (National personifications)
* Ceibo (National tree)
* Red Quebracho (National forest tree)
* Ceibo flower (Floral emblem)
* Hornero (National animal/National bird)
* Rhodochrosite (National stone)
* Pato (National sport)
* Wine (National liquor)
* Asado \- Locro (National dishes)
* Our Lady of Luján (Patron saint)

Taxon identifiers

Erythrina crista-galli|

* Wikidata: Q162849
* Wikispecies: Erythrina crista-galli
* APDB: 63781
* APNI: 170979
* Calflora: 9329
* CoL: 3BD9G
* EoL: 644169
* EPPO: ERZCG
* FloraBase: 48633
* FoAO2: Erythrina crista-galli
* GBIF: 5349719
* GRIN: 15739
* iNaturalist: 162718
* IPNI: 96579-2
* IRMNG: 10992763
* ITIS: 26676
* IUCN: 144285016
* MoBotPF: 280318
* NatureServe: 2.153653
* NCBI: 49817
* NZOR: a296b2db-fb3e-4b91-803e-a5bbab9feade
* Open Tree of Life: 84915
* Plant List: ild-2683
* PLANTS: ERCR6
* POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:494400-1
* RHS: 32582
* SANBI: 341-8
* Tropicos: 13009264
* WFO: wfo-0000180641

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template