Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Erythrina crista-galli L.
Family : LEGUMINOSAE
Genus : Erythrina
Catalan common name : Eritrina cresta de gall. Flor del coral.
Spanish common name : Árbol del coral. Ceibo. Cresta de gallo.
General distribution : South America
Flowering time : May. June. July. August.
Life-forms : Macrophanerophyte.
Habitat : Gardens.
Uses and properties : Furniture, construction and tools. Symbolic uses.
Characteristics : A small deciduous tree that can reach 10 m. The branches are spiny, same as the leaf petiole, which bears trifoliate leaves a dark green in colour. The folioles are oblong-lanceolate and 10-15 cm. in length. The flowers are very showy, large (up to 5 cm. in diameter), dark red in colour and bound around the seeds.
Observations : This plant bears the Argentine national flower.
