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''Erythrina'' 〔''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607〕 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 trees, growing up to in height. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ερυθρóς (''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. However, the growth of the branches can resemble the shape of sea coral rather than the color of ''Corallium rubrum'' specifically, and this is an alternative source for the name. Other popular names, usually local and particular to distinct species, liken the flowers' red hues to those of a male chicken's wattles, and/or the flower shape to its leg spurs. Commonly seen Spanish names for any local species are ''bucaré'', ''frejolillo'' or ''porotillo'', and in Afrikaans some are called ''kafferboom''. ''Mullumurikku'' is a widespread name in Kerala. ==Description and ecology== Not all species of ''Erythrina'' have bright red flowers; the Wiliwili (''E. sandwicensis'') has extraordinary variation in its flower colour, with orange, yellow, salmon, green and white all being found within natural populations. This striking color polymorphism is also found in ''Erythrina lysistemon'' and ''Erythrina caffra''. All species except the sterile hybrids ''E. × sykesii'' and E. × bidwillii have legume-type fruit, sometimes called pods, containing one of more seeds. The resilient buoyant seeds are often carried by the sea for large distances and are commonly called "sea beans". ''Erythrina'' leaves are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the swift moth ''Endoclita damor'' and the woolly bears ''Hypercompe eridanus'' and ''Hypercompe icasia''. The mite ''Tydeus munsteri'' is a pest on the coastal coral tree (''E. caffra''). Many birds visit the nectar-rich ''Erythrina'' flowers. In the Neotropics, these are usually larger hummingbirds, for example the swallow-tailed hummingbird (''Eupetomena macroura'') and the black-throated (''Anthracothorax nigricollis'') and green-breasted mangos (''A. prevostii'') – though they seem not to be especially fond of ''E. speciosa'' at least, which they visit rather opportunistically. In Southeast Asia, the black drongo (''Dicrurus macrocercus'') which usually does not eat nectar in quantity has been observed feeding on ''E. suberosa'' flowers, and mynas and of course more specialized nectar feeders also utilize coral tree flowers. Lorikeets such as the collared lory (''Phigys solitarius'') and the possibly extinct New Caledonian lorikeet (''Charmosyna diadema'') are known to consume (or have consumed) large amounts of ''Erythrina'' nectar. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Erythrina」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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