Erythrina L.
Shrubs, trees, or very rarely herbs. Stems often prickly. Lvs pinnately 3-foliolate; petiolules unequal; stipules simple, small; stipels gland-like. Infl. racemose, axillary and leafless or terminal and leafy at base. Calyx truncate, split or ± 5-toothed; calyx teeth < tube. Keel straight; vexillary stamen free or connate only at base, the remainder connate to 1/2 way; anthers uniform. Style incurved; stigma small, terminal; ovules numerous. Pod linear, falcate, constricted or sinuate between the seeds, 2-valved, follicularly dehiscent by the upper suture, or rarely almost indehiscent. Seeds with an oblong hilum, estrophiolate.
108 spp., tropical and subtropical. Naturalised, 1 hybrid.
