  
 
Erythrina is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains about 130 species, which are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are shrubs or trees, growing up to 30m in height. The generic name is derived from the Greek word erythros, meaning red, referring to the flower color of certain species. Particularly in horticulture, the name coral tree is used as a collective term for these plants. "Flame trees" is another vernacular name, but may refer to a number of unrelated plants as well. Many species of Erythrina have bright red flowers, and this may be the origin of the common name.   
  Erythrina crista-galli commonly known as Brazilian Cockspur Coral Tree is one of the most striking of the flowering coral trees. This species is valued for its bright red, profuse blooms. It is a deciduous small tree from South America where it can be found in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. It grows 4.5 to 6m tall with an equal width. It has a somewhat crooked trunk and dark furrowed bark. The leaves are composed of 3 dark green leaflets, 7.5 to 8cm long by 4cm wide that have curved thorns on the veins on the backside and petioles. The 5cm long by 2.5cm wide flowers, usually scarlet-red but sometimes pink or red-purple, are borne singly or in groups of 2-3 in loose terminal racemes to 60cm long from spring to summer. These inflorescences emerge from the current year’s growth and several flushes of flowers can appear, particularly if old flower stalks are pruned off. Plant in full sun and irrigate only occasionally. This is one of the hardiest of the coral trees and is noted that, once established, it will tolerate temperatures to -7°C without significant dieback and is root hardy down to -10°C. It is best to prune this tree at least annually to remove the past year's spent flower spikes and to encourage repeat flowering and maintain size. The common name comes from the similarity between the comb of a rooster and the broad crimson petals in the flower.
   
  
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