Coral tree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coral tree |
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Corallodendron americanum (Mill.) Kuntze |
The Erythrina americana is a beautiful flowering plant. It is also known by many fun names like coral tree, colorines, colorín, or pemoches. This plant grows naturally in Mexico.
The word "colorín" means "loud color" or "gaudy color" in Spanish. This name fits because the plant has bright red flowers! People also call the flowers "cuchillitos" (little knives) or "machetitos" (little machetes). This is because each red flower looks a bit like a tiny machete.
These red flowers are edible! In many parts of southern Mexico, people boil the red part of the flower. They then cook it with scrambled eggs or tuna.
This plant often blooms during the dry season, around April. Its bright red flowers are very popular with hummingbirds. The plants can be small, just a few feet tall, or grow into trees up to five meters (about 16 feet) tall.
One of the first times this tree was shown in America was in the Florentine Codex. This is a very old book from the 17th century. A person named Francisco Hernández wrote about it. He said that the juice from the flowers, if given to children, could make them sleepy or keep them awake.
It's important to know that while the flowers can be eaten, the seeds and other parts of the tree are very poisonous. You should never eat them.
What it Looks Like
The Erythrina americana is a tree that usually grows to be 4 to 5 meters (about 13 to 16 feet) tall. It has smooth, pale brown bark. Its branches spread out widely, forming a big, bushy top.
This tree loses its leaves in winter and during the dry season. It has sharp points, called spines, on its branches. The trunk also has flat, cone-shaped spines. Its leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. Each leaf has three parts, and these parts are shaped like diamonds or ovals. They can be 7 to 22 centimeters (about 3 to 9 inches) long and wide.
How People Use It
The bright red flowers of the Erythrina americana are edible. As mentioned, people in Mexico cook them. Kids sometimes use the flowers as pretend "little knives" for play.
While the flowers are safe to eat, the seeds and bark of this tree are poisonous. They should never be consumed by humans or animals.
This tree is also used to make traditional crafts in many parts of Mexico. People especially use its wood to create traditional dance masks. In places like Veracruz, Mexico, the tree is even used as a strong fence post. It's a beautiful and tough tree. Some types can even handle cold weather.
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Tall types of this plant are not often grown in gardens. However, smaller types are popular garden plants. This is because they can handle both cold and hot weather. They also come from dry places, bloom early, and attract hummingbirds.
See also
In Spanish: Erythrina americana para niños
- Traditional Mexican Medicine Information
