Flame tree Erythrina

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Flame tree

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Erythrina 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 30 m (98 ft) 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 kaffirboom. Mullumurikku is a widespread.
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Its botanical name is Erythrina abyssinica:
the common name is flame tree or Red Hot Poker Tree.
It is also called Luck Bean Tree.

The Kikuyu name is Muhuti.
The Luhya name is Kumurembe.

It has some traditional values such as the superstitious curing of mumps in Luhya whereby anyone suffering from this disease has to collect a bundle of fagots, run to the tree, throw the fagots at the tree, making sure they hit the trunk. And then say, "There goes my mumps with you to the tree!" and then turn around and run without looking back.

Photo and text by Patrick Wafula



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Worldwide use



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Things found on the way


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HAIKU


red blossoms on
bare branches of the flame tree--
crunch of dry leaves


Partrick Wafula, Nairobi

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Related words

***** Bombax blossom

***** Flamboyant Tree (Swahili : Mjohoro)


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