Machete
StarErythrina berteroana
Synonyms: Erythrina neglecta
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Guatemala and El Salvador the young flowers and shoots of pito are cooked and eaten as a soporific vegetable; consumed in quantity they induce drowsiness and deep sleep, and a decoction of the flowers is taken folk-medicinally for nervousness, while folk belief holds that flowers and leaves placed under the pillow promote restful sleep (Morton, 1994). The sedative, anxiolytic activity of an aqueous flower extract has been confirmed pharmacologically in mice, consistent with the CNS-active erythrina alkaloids of the plant (Garcia-Mateos et al., as reviewed). The seeds are toxic.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Erythrina berteroana, the pito or machete coral tree, is a small to medium deciduous tree of the Fabaceae, native to Mexico and Central America. The trunk and branches are armed with short, curved prickles. The leaves are alternate and trifoliolate, with broadly ovate to rhombic leaflets. Showy, tubular, bright red flowers are borne in dense racemes, typically appearing when the tree is leafless, and are pollinated by birds. The fruit is an elongated, constricted legume pod that splits to reveal hard, bright red, bean-like seeds. The tree is widely planted as a living fence post and shade tree, and its tender young flowers and shoots are harvested as a seasonal vegetable across Guatemala and El Salvador. It thrives in seasonally dry to moist lowland and montane habitats. The seeds contain toxic erythrina alkaloids and should not be eaten.
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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