Local names:
Bengali (palte,madar), Burmese (kathit), English (Indian coral tree,coral tree), Hindi (pangri,dadak), Malay (dedap), Tamil (mulu murungu)
Erythrina indica is a medium-sized, spiny, deciduous tree normally growing to 6-9 m (occasionally 28 m) tall and 60 cm dbh. Young stems and branches are thickly armed with stout conical spines up to 8 mm long, which fall off after 2-4 years; rarely, a few spines persist and are retained with the corky bark. Bark smooth and green when young, exfoliating in papery flakes, becoming thick, corky and deeply fissured with age. Leaves trifoliate, alternate, bright emerald-green, on long petioles 6-15 cm, rachis 5-30 cm long, prickly; leaflets smooth, shiny, broader than long, 8-20 by 5-15 cm, ovate to acuminate with an obtusely pointed end. Leaf petiole and rachis are spiny. Flowers in bright pink to scarlet erect terminal racemes 15-20 cm long; stamens slightly protruding from the flower. Fruit a cylindrical torulose pod, green, turning black and wrinkly as they ripen, thin-walled and constricted around the seeds. There are 1-8 smooth, oblong, dark red to almost black seeds per pod. Erythrina comes from the Greek word ‘eruthros’ meaning red, alluding to the showy red flowers of the Erythrina species.
Ecology
E.indica is indigenous to the low-elevation deciduous forests of South Asia, found widely scattered throughout the region on plains and undulating terrain up to about 750 m elevation. The tree occurs in a wide range of soils frequently on deep alluvial loams, silts and clays. On gravelly skeletal soils, its growth is normally stunted. It is somewhat frost-sensitive, tender shoots dying back but quickly re-grows under favourable conditions. Preferred rainfall is in the range 500-1500 mm annually; survives with less when planted along water courses or irrigation channels
Native range
India
The seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Seeds germinate well (60-75% for fresh seeds); they can be stored for a long time if kept in cool, dry and insect free conditions. There are about 4500-6250 seeds/kg.
E.indica is indigenous to the low-elevation deciduous forests of South Asia, found widely scattered throughout the region on plains and undulating terrain up to about 750 m elevation. The tree occurs in a wide range of soils frequently on deep alluvial loams, silts and clays. On gravelly skeletal soils, its growth is normally stunted. It is somewhat frost-sensitive, tender shoots dying back but quickly re-grows under favourable conditions. Preferred rainfall is in the range 500-1500 mm annually; survives with less when planted along water courses or irrigation channels
Natural regeneration occurs freely by self-seeding. On good sites, it tends to be weedy. Artificial propagation is most easily and quickly done by inserting large branch cuttings into moist ground; they quickly take root and may flower in the same year. Direct sowing also succeeds easily. Seeds are obtained by collecting the pods in June, threshing and sieving or sorting by hand. No seed pre-treatment is required. There are about 4 500-6 250 seeds/kg. Planting nursery seedlings is not as successful as planting stumps, prepared by pruning to 3-5 cm top and 20-25 cm root.
The new leaves are eaten in curries
Fodder: Used as livestock fodder when lopped as it is rich in nitrogen (4% of dry weight)
Fibre: the bark is stringy and provides a strong fibre that is used in rope making.
Timber: The wood is light, soft, does not split and neither warps, making it suitable in applications where heavy wood is unsuitable such as in small curved articles.
Shade or shelter: It is often planted as a shade tree in cacao and coffee plantations in Southeast Asia
Tannin and Dyestuffs: A red dye is extracted from its flowers.
Medicine: the bark decoction is used in stomach disorders, anti-abortion treatment, malarial fever and liver problems
Ornamental: E. indica is a large handsome tree. It flowers at 3-4 m tall, making it a popular garden or park plant
In India, it is planted as a live hedge around cultivated gardens. When the cuttings are stuck on the ground, they root quickly to give live hedges. It has been used India as support for pepper and grape vines, by virtue of
Soil improver: Provides green manure and mulch after pruning