Thursday, February 27, 2014

Plant: Coral tree blooms....

I was virtually drawn to this spectacular tree like a moth to the flame....got to know it is the coral tree (Erythrina lysistemon), a native of Africa. 


They create  a nice contrast against the green pine and sycamore and the blue sky...carpet the ground with myriad petals..and its a sight to watch the crows foraging on the buds and bugs on them...

A cluster of flower from up close..

The blazing blossoms in perfect sync with spring ambiance around..

A pair of crows spend spring afternoon among the blazing coral flowers..

Autumn in coral tree..not any shades of red, orange, purple..yet the golden leaves are pleasantly distinct from the regular green ones...

To my pleasant surprise, I find these coral blossoms reminiscent of flame-of-the-forest. 


The genus Erythrina has myriad species........many of them can be seen around South California.......some of which I have come across......
Coast coral tree (E. caffra)...........a common street-side tree in Orange and San Diego County......


Pipal (E. chiapasana)...........Mexican variety...very pretty...planted in my University campus in San Diego..



Cockspur coral tree (E. crista-galli)...........pretty with bigger petals.......



Dwarf coral tree (E. humeana).....



Not sure of this species...but it looks like ripe chillis ....








A green pod..........

The pod with exposed seeds.........









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