What is a coral tree?

The general name of the coral tree concerns about 100 different types of trees that belong to the Erythrina family. Some other nicknames are Flame Tree and Tiger's Claw. These are high, wide, leaf trees of the shadow that bloom with brilliantly colored flowers. They grow in tropical climate around the world. They cultivate for various purposes such as shade, natural fences and wind barriers. Parts of the coral tree are also used in certain cultures.

The native stations of the coral tree include East Africa, India, Islands in Indian and Pacific Oceans, Southeast Asia and Southern China in warmer areas. It can be found growing in cultivation throughout the world with tropical climate. Usually it does not survive in areas where there is some frost. It prefers the climate with dry winter and rainy summer, but can tolerate a number of tropical humid climates. It prefers sandy soil and lower heights with lots of sun, but grade will be in different conditions.

Some types of coral tree can grow up to 80 feet (24 m), but the height in the range of 33 to 66 feet (10 to 20 m) is more typical and tends to spread near the peak. The bark is usually gray and in many species have branches of black spine that resemble tiger claws. The leaves are usually large, green and come in different shapes. The trees are deciduous and the leaves fell during the dry winter season. Flowering usually occurs at the end of winter or early spring before the leaves and flowers often grow in large, striking clusters with brilliant colors, the most common is bright red or reddish orange. The seeds most often grow in colored long pods located just below the flowers and are often poisonous.

Coral tree is often planted for usefulness and beauty. They are often used for the construction of live fences or hedges and wind barriers in inhabited areas. They are also used for practice called intercropping where they are grownOn plantations to provide shade for crops such as cocoa and coffee, or to provide support for lattice crops such as vanilla and betel nuts. The leaves can be used for animal feed because they contain high amounts of protein.

There are several cultures that use parts of coral tree for healing purposes. The bark is used as a component in stomach agents in Tonga and in Samoa the bark is used to treat swelling, while the leaves are used for eye problems. In China, Southeast Asia and India, bark and leaves are used in a number of medicinal products such as leaf cladding to relieve joint pain, and juice that destroys parasites such as tapeworm. The bark is also used as an expectorant and digestive problems.