Indian Coral Tree
Family
Fabaceae
Origin
Indian Subcontinent & Southeast Asia
Description
Raktamandar or Mandara is a medium sized throny tree with has a grey, corky, deeply cracked bark and an irregular crown. The branches have prickles, while branchlets are tomentose and vigorous. Leaves are compound with three broad leaflets, the middle one the largest.
The coral tree is a captivating sight with clusters of bright scarlet, are 4 cm long, bisexual, and placed in axillary and terminal racemes which blossom February–April..Flowers have 5 petals of unequal length, and 10 stamens.
Many birds such as hummingbirds, mangos visit the nectar-rich Erythrina flowers.
Environment
Erythrina suberosa prefers a sunny position, though they also thrive with some shade. Heavy shade depresses growth. They require moderate watering. These plants can tolerate some frost, though they are usually defoliated by it. They grow best on old alluvial soils and weathered red basalts. however, it succeeds on a wide variety of soils including shallow, gravelly sites, black cotton soil, clay loams, and even saline or waterlogged soils where few other trees will grow.
Landscape Uses
It is used as an ornamental and hedge plant in the gardening.
