Cardinal Spear, Redcardinal

Erythrina herbacea

Physical Characteristics

Erythrina herbacea is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Texas.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Edible Uses: Flowers - cooked. An acceptable vegetable when boiled[183]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young leaves - occasionally cooked and eaten[183].

Medicinal Uses

Antiemetic Diuretic Narcotic Purgative Tonic The plant is narcotic and purgative[200]. A cold infusion of the root has been used to treat bowel pain in women[257]. A decoction of the roots or berries has been used to treat nausea, constipation and blocked urination[257]. A decoction of the 'beans' or inner bark has been used as a body rub and steam for numb, painful limbs and joints[257]. A decoction of the leaves has been used as a general tonic[257].

Known Hazards

The plant contains alkaloids that have powerful narcotic and purgative effects[200]. The seeds contain numerous toxic alkaloids, including erysodine and erysopine. They have an action similar to curare and have been used as a rat poison[274].