Plate 081 · flowering spray with a hummingbird IdentificationFive marks on the plate
- 1Long, curved standard petal, orange-red.
- 2Long, hanging spray with many flowers.
- 3Dark red calyx at the base of the flower.
- 4Leaf of three leaflets broad and smooth-edged.
- 5Prickly branches. Small and dark.
Easily confused with Cockspur coral treeErythrina crista-galliThe national flower. Upright sprays and a broad standard petal; grows in low, wet places. 081 / 100 · PLANTS · FABACEAELEAST CONCERN Brazilian coral tree
Erythrina falcata
Ceibo salteño · Forest ceibo
One of the showiest trees of the Tucumán forest. In spring long sprays of orange-red flowers hang from its branches, sometimes when the crown is almost bare. Hummingbirds and other birds come for the nectar.
- Height
- 10 – 20 m
- Altitude
- up to 2,000 m
- Flower
- orange-red, in hanging sprays
- Flowering
- spring
- Bird flowers
- Semi-deciduous
- Ornamental
- Legume family
Altitude rangeRed in the montane forest
Montane forest and woodland It grows in the Yungas of Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy, in montane forest and cloud woodland, up to about 2,000 m. It also occurs in Misiones.
EcologyNectar for birds
- Hummingbirdssip nectar from the flowers
- Perching birdsalso visit the sprays
- Dark poddry fruit with seeds
It is widely planted as an ornamental in north-western cities, where it flowers along streets and in squares.
Life cycleA burst of red
- Hanging sprays. The orange-red flowers hang in long sprays. The largest petal is long and curved.
- Semi-deciduous. It drops part of its leaves and often flowers with a sparse crown.
- Dark pod. The fruit is a dry, dark brown pod.
Where to look in Tucumán- Sierra de San Javier
- Parque Provincial La Florida
- Quebrada de Lules
- Reserva Experimental Horco Molle
- El Siambón