South Africa's unique coral trees

Every year in late winter, South Africa's eastern coastal belt is set ablaze with the scarlet and orange flowers of certain coral tree species from the genus Erythrina. Mike Burgess investigates the diversity of this special category of highly adaptive deciduous trees that includes the peculiar ploughbreaker.

- By Mike Burgess

The Erythrina genus consists of over 170 species and was first described by Carl Thunberg of Sweden in the 1770s. Belonging to the bean family, Fabaceae, coral trees are found across the globe, including Africa, Australia, South America and even the Galapagos islands. South Africa boasts six coral tree species that include large trees, adapted shrub-like versions and even a peculiar 'subterranean tree'.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CORAL TREE FAMILY

The E. afra (coastal coral tree), E. lysistemon (lucky bean tree) and E. latissimi (broad-leaf coral tree) are South African coral trees ranging in height between 5m to 30m. All three species thrive mostly in the frost-free coastal belts of eastern South Africa.

The remaining three Erythrina species are different in several ways.