Erythrina caffra (South African Coral tree)

Erythrina caffra, Erythrina constantiana, Erythrina insignis, South African Coral tree, Kaffirboom

Botanical names: Erythrina caffra, Erythrina constantiana, Erythrina insignis

Common names: South African Coral tree, Kaffirboom

Subfamily: Faboideae

Origin: South Africa

Erythrina caffra is often confused with Erythrina lysistemon, the Common Coral tree. Erythrina caffra grows in the coastal and riverine fringe forests from Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal to the Humansdorp District in Eastern Cape and in a pocket further north on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. It is generally taller than Erythrina lysistemon, the flowers are orange-scarlet, and a cream-flowered form is occasionally seen, and the standard petal is shorter and broader so that the stamens stick out of the flower giving it a whiskered look. In most other respects they are very similar, and were in fact regarded as the same variable species for many years and, when not in flower, are difficult to tell apart.