Erythrina americana
StarErythrina americana
Synonyms: Erythrina enneandra, Erythrina coralloides, Corallodendron coralloides, Erythrina fulgens, Corallodendron americanum, Erythrina laeta, Corallodendron roseum, Erythrina rosea
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Mexican folk medicine the toxic seeds of Erythrina americana, which contain erythrina alkaloids such as erythroidine that act on the neuromuscular junction, are used in small amounts as a sedative and to calm nervous and anxious states, while the bright red flowers are gathered and eaten as a traditional food (cooked in dishes). Ethnobotanical surveys of Mexican medicinal plants document the seeds' use as a tranquilizing and sedative remedy (Argueta, 1994; Aguilar, 1994). The seeds are poisonous owing to their alkaloid content and must be used with caution.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Erythrina americana, known in Mexico as colorín, tzompantli or zompantle, is a small deciduous tree of the family Fabaceae native to Mexico, typically reaching about 6 to 9 metres in height. The trunk is thick with coffee-brown bark streaked with green, and the branches bear scattered spines. The leaves are alternate and trifoliolate, composed of three broadly triangular to rhombic leaflets. Striking bright crimson, narrow tubular flowers up to about 10 centimetres long are borne in dense erect racemes, appearing before or with the new leaves and providing an abundant nectar source for hummingbirds and other birds; each flower has been likened to a small machete or knife. The fruit is an elongated, constricted legume pod that splits to reveal hard, glossy, bright scarlet bean-shaped seeds. The species is widely planted as an ornamental, living fence and shade tree.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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