Erythrina crista-galli L.

Evergreen shrub to tree to 8 m high; trunk, branches and branchlets without prickles (Harden (2002: 586) describes E. crista-galli as deciduous, glabrous and with small prickles on trunk and branches); branchlet apices, developing leaves, ovaries and young fruits with minute simple hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate; terminal leaflet 5.8–13 cm long, 2.5–7.7 mm wide, cuneate at base, acute at apex, lateral lobes absent; basal leaflets identical to, or slightly smaller than terminal leaflet [?leaflets elliptic-lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, acute to obtuse, 5.5–9.5 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, fide Cowan ms.; Harden (2002: 586) describes leaflets 3–6 cm long, 2–5 cm wide]; petiole 5–14 cm long, frequently bearing 1 or 2 recurved prickles. Inflorescence pseudo-racemose; pedicels 13–25 mm long at anthesis, in clusters of 2’s or 3’s subtended by leaves in lower part. Calyx broadly campanulate, 9–13 mm long, truncate with 2 small deciduous teeth. Standard pink, red or crimson on inner surface, pink on outer surface, broadly elliptic, (3.5–) 4–5.5 cm long, (2.5–) 3.4–4.6 cm wide, reflexed; claw ± 2 mm long; wings white, 9–19 mm long; keel petals pink, red or crimson, 3–4.5 cm long, fused. Uppermost stamen free from staminal tube. Ovary puberulous; stigma simple. Pods oblong, turgid, ± constricted between seeds, ± 14–30 cm long, (8–) 1.3–1.6 mm wide, glabrous at maturity, several-seeded. [Description requires further assessment due to conflicting treatments-Editor, 18 October 2021.]

Swampy or very wet soils in grassland and fields, often bordering rivers and estuaries. It is more likely to be found in open areas, often of secondary forest growth, and only rarely in denser forests.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.