Food Plants International

126
Names
English: Indian coral tree Scientific name: Erythrina variegata L.
Tok pisin: Palpal Synonyms:
Tok ples: Plant family: Fabaceae
Description: A deciduous tree. It grows up to 15-20 m
tall and loses its leaves for part of the year. The trunk
has blunt spines. The branches are spreading, crooked
and armed with sharp black prickles. The leaves have 3
leaflets. The leaflets are broadly oval and 8 to 18 cm
long. They are shiny green on top and dull flat green
underneath. The flowers appear before the leaves. The
flowers are at the ends of branches and are hairy and
dense. The flowers are large numerous and hang down.
They are red. The pod is about 10 to 25 cm long and
1.5 to 2 cm across. The pod is constricted between the
beans. Seeds are dark red.
Distribution: It is native from India to the Philippines
and the Pacific. It mostly grows naturally along the
dunes very close to the coast but is transplanted as an
ornamental. It will grow up to 900 m altitude. It is
tolerant to salt. It can tolerate drought. It needs full
sun. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.
Cultivation: Trees can be grown from seed. Cuttings also grow easily.
Production:
Use: The young leaves are eaten cooked.
The seeds are eaten after boiling or roasting.
Caution: Some similar coral trees contain alkaloids and are used as medicine. The seeds are
poisonous raw.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible
part
Leaves
Seeds
Insects:
Diseases:
Leaf spot
Pests:
Moisture
%
Energy
KJ
Protein
g
Calcium
mg
Iron
mg
proVit A
µg
proVit C
mg
Importance: The tree occurs in many lowland areas of Papua New Guinea, but the leaves are
only eaten by Sepik people at present.
Zinc
mg