Lower Risk

Erythrina variegata (Bat's Wing Cork Tree, Indian Coral Tree)

(Erythrina corallodendron var. orientalis)

This deciduous tree grows to 3-27m tall. Its native distribution ranges from its native range is Tanzania to Pacific, including Australia (NT and QLD). It has been widely cultivated around the world and therefore introduced to many countries (i.e. Singapore, Japan, Belize, Philippines, La Reunion, Cuba, French Polynesia, Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Maldives) and has become invasive in the USA and the Marshall Islands. The leaves and seeds contain alkaloids and saponins, which have medicinal properties and can be used to stupefy or kill fish when fishing. This species reproduces both vegetatively and via seed which float and can be dispersed by ocean currents. Germination rates of fresh seed is often 100% while older seeds usually require pre-treatment to germinate. The various species of Erythrina be crossed to produce fertile hybrids, with those that are most closely related crossing most readily.