Erythrina abyssinica Fabaceae - Papilionoideae Lam. ex DC.

Erythrina abyssinica 

red hot poker tree, lucky bean tree 

LOCAL NAMES 

Amharic (kuara,korch,korra); Arabic (dus); Bemba (mulunguti); English 

(Uganda coral,red-hot-poker tree,erythrina,flame tree,lucky bean tree,kaffir 

boom); Luganda (kiyirikiti,muirikiti,jirikiti,muyirikiti); Lunda (chisunga); 

Nyanja (mwale,mulunguti); Shona (mutiti); Swahili 

(muhuti,mjafari,mwamba ngoma,mbamba ngoma); Tigrigna 

(zuwawue,soaueh); Tongan (mulunguti); Trade name (lucky bean tree,red 

hot poker tree) 

BOTANIC DESCRIPTION 

Erythrina abyssinica is medium-sized tree, usually 5-15 m in height, 

deciduous, thickset, with a well-branched, rounded, spreading crown; 

trunk short; bark yellow-buff when fresh, otherwise grey-brown to creamy 

brown, deeply grooved, thickly corky and often spiny; when damaged the 

tree exudes a brown, gummy sap. 

Leaves compound, trifoliolate, alternate; leaflets almost as broad as long, 

5.5-15 x 6-14 cm, with the terminal leaflet the largest; lateral leaflets rather 

smaller than this, if 3 lobed then obscurely so, densely woolly when 

young, losing most of these hairs by maturity; midrib and main veins on 

the undersurface often bear scattered prickles. 

Flowers spectacular, in strong, sturdy racemes on the ends of branchlets, 

orange-red, up to 5 cm long; calyx joined to form a tube, split along the 

under surface almost to the base and separating away into long, slender, 

distinctive lobes at the apex; calyx and standard petal striking scarlet to 

brick red. 

Fruit a cylindrical, woody pod, 4-16 cm long, deeply constricted between 

the seeds, densely furry, light brown in colour, opening to set free 1-10 

shiny, red seeds with a grey-black patch. 

This species closely resembles E. latissima. 

Erythrina comes from the Greek word ‘erythros’-red, alluding to the showy 

red flowers of the Erythrina species. The specific name means ‘from 

Ethiopia’. 

BIOLOGY 

In southern Africa, flowering occurs from July to November, and fruiting 

from November to March. In Zambia, flowering occurs before the new 

leaves appear from July to October, and pods appear between December 

and March. Flowers often appear on a bare tree. Pollination is by nectarfeeding 

birds. Seeds mature within 60 days of pollination, and they are 

dispersed by fruit-eating birds that mistake them for ripe berries. 

Agroforestry Database 4.0 (Orwa et al.2009) 

Lam. ex DC. 

Fabaceae - Papilionoideae 

Flowers (Saunders R.C.) 

The calyx lobes are long and filamentous 

and a bright orange-red colour. (Ellis RP) 

Detail of the unusual ”petals” which 

characterize this species. (Ellis RP) 

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ECOLOGY 

E. abyssinica is the most widespread species in Africa, found in savannahs throughout eastern and southern Africa. As 

with many trees in areas with frequent fires, the young trees establish a deep root system before stem growth. E. 

abyssinica grows well in most climates but not in dry or high areas. It does not grow in forests. 

BIOPHYSICAL LIMITS 

Altitude: 1 250-2 400 m, Mean annual temperature: 10-26 deg. C, Mean annual rainfall: 800-2 000 mm 

Soil type: Grows best in well-drained soils of pH 3.5-5.4. 

DOCUMENTED SPECIES DISTRIBUTION 

Native: 

Exotic: 

Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, 

Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 

Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe 

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka 

Native range 

Exotic range 

The map above shows countries where the species has been planted. It does neither 

suggest that the species can be planted in every ecological zone within that country, 

nor that the species can not be planted in other countries than those depicted. Since 

some tree species are invasive, you need to follow biosafety procedures that apply to 

your planting site. 


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The map above shows countries where the species has been planted. It does neither 

suggest that the species can be planted in every ecological zone within that country, 

nor that the species can not be planted in other countries than those depicted. Since 



some tree species are invasive, you need to follow biosafety procedures that apply to 

your planting site. 



PRODUCTS 

Fodder: The foliage is considered a good protein supplement for ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) and has been 

used as a fodder source for rabbits and pigs. 

Apiculture: The tree provides bees with forage. 

Fuel: E. abyssinica trees may be cut for firewood. 

Timber: The termite-resistant wood E. abyssinica is soft, greyish-white, non-durable, susceptible to fungal attack, and 

with a shot-silk effect. Although it is somewhat woolly to work, it does not split when nailed but has poor nail-holding 

ability. It has been used to make stools, toys, drums, utensils, mortars, beehives, pestles, boxes, picture frames, floors, 

shoes and for construction. 

Tannin or dyestuff: The bark and roots yield useful dyes. 

Poison: Seeds of E. abyssinica contain a curare-like poison that, if injected into the bloodstream, acts as an 

anaesthetic that may cause paralysis and even death by respiratory failure. 

Medicine: Pounded parts are used in a steam form in Kenya to treat diseases such as anthrax, and the bark is boiled 

with goat meat for treating gonorrhoea. The bark of the green stem may also be pounded and then tied into a fine piece 

of cloth and the liquid from it squeezed into the eyes to cure inflammation of the lids. The bark may be roasted until 

black, powdered, and applied to burns and general body swellings. A decoction is taken orally as an anthelmintic and to 

relive abdominal pains. The roots are used to treat syphilis, and the leaves to cure skin diseases in cattle. 

Other products: The seeds are used to decorate trinkets, bracelets and necklaces. 

SERVICES 

Erosion control: The species is used on stream banks and for soil conservation terraces. 

Shade or shelter: E. abyssinica is grown as a shade plant in coffee plantations and grazing fields. 

Nitrogen fixing: The roots of trees are infected by Rhizobia nodulate and fix atmospheric nitrogen. 

Soil improver: Leaf fall in the dry season is a source of mulch. 

Ornamental: The tree is a popular ornamental in the tropics and subtropics. 

Boundary or barrier or support: E. abyssinica has the useful characteristic of sprouting from truncheons if cut just 

before flowering, and so can be used to make a live fence. 

Intercropping: E. abyssinica is usually combined with annual crops, especially when it is grown in rotation with coffee or 

cocoa. 


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TREE MANAGEMENT 

Young trees should be protected from heavy frosts until they are well established. Growth is slow. Pollarding and 

coppicing are suitable for E. abyssinica. Trees should not be pruned until they are 1 year old. Frequent pruning will 

reduce the competitive effects of hedgerows and increase the ratio of leaves to stems but will also increase labour 

costs and reduce total tree biomass production. With its soft wood, E. abyssinica is somewhat easier to prune than 

other species used in alley farming. It may be advisable to grow the trees with shade-tolerant crops, rather than 

imposing a severe pruning regime to favour shade-intolerant crops. As a shade tree, it can be established rapidly by 

planting large stakes, 2.5 m long and 8-10 cm in diameter. Stakes this size can produce a canopy of 3-4 m diameter in 

6 months. 

GERMPLASM MANAGEMENT 

The seeds may be stored for long periods without losing viability if kept cool, dry and insect free. Seeds that have been 

damaged by insects should be discarded. Before storage, remnants of the pod should be removed and the seeds sun 

dried for 1 day. Storage should be in a cool, dry place. For long-term storage, seeds are kept in a low-temperature 

seed-storage facility (approximately 5 deg. C and 30-40 r.h.). On average, there are about 6800 seeds/kg. 

PESTS AND DISEASES 

Defoliating insects are a major problem for E. abyssinica. The tree is also attacked by a stem borer, and the wood is 

susceptible to fungal attack. Other insect pests include bruchid seed weevil and chrysomelid leaf beetle. Leaf galls 

have been observed on the tree. 


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FURTHER READNG 

Anderson GD. 1966. Increasing coconut yield and income on the sandy soils of the Tanganyika coast. East African 

Agriculture and Forestry Journal. 32(3):310-314. 

Beentje HJ. 1994. Kenya trees, shrubs and lianas. National Museums of Kenya. 

Bein E. 1996. Useful trees and shrubs in Eritrea. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Nairobi, Kenya. 

Bekele-Tesemma A, Birnie A, Tengnas B. 1993. Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia. Regional Soil Conservation Unit 

(RSCU), Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA). 

Birnie A. 1997. What tree is that? A beginner's guide to 40 trees in Kenya. Jacaranda designs Ltd. 

Coates-Palgrave K. 1988. Trees of southern Africa. C.S. Struik Publishers Cape Town. 

Dale IR, Greenway PJ. 1961. Kenya trees and shrubs. Buchanan’s Kenya Estates Ltd. 

Drummond BR. 1981. Common trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. National Resources Board. 

Eggeling. 1940. Indigenous trees of Uganda. Govt. of Uganda. 

Hines DA, Eckman K. 1993. Indigenous multipurpose trees for Tanzania: uses and economic benefits to the people. 

Cultural survival Canada and Development Services Foundation of Tanzania. 

ICRAF. 1992. A selection of useful trees and shrubs for Kenya: Notes on their identification, propagation and 

management for use by farming and pastoral communities. ICRAF. 

Katende AB et al. 1995. Useful trees and shrubs for Uganda. Identification, Propagation and Management for 

Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development 

Authority (SIDA). 

Leeuwenberg AJM. 1987. Medicinal and poisonous plants of the tropics. Pudoc Wageningen. 

Mbuya LP et al. 1994. Useful trees and shrubs for Tanzania: Identification, Propagation and Management for 

Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development 

Authority (SIDA). 

Noad T, Birnie A. 1989. Trees of Kenya. General Printers, Nairobi. 

Powell MH, Westley SB (eds.). 1993. Erythrina production and use: a field manual. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, 

Hawaii. 

Storrs AEG. 1995. Know your trees: some common trees found in Zambia. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU). 

Wayne T. 1984. A pocket directory of trees and seeds in Kenya. KENGO. 

SUGGESTED CITATION 

Orwa C, Mutua A , Kindt R , Jamnadass R, Simons A. 2009. Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide 

version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/) 


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Erythrina abyssinica Fabaceae - Papilionoideae Lam. ex DC.

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