Cockspur coraltree

Family: Fabaceae
Scientific name: Erythrina crista-galli
Description: Plant Form: Large shrub or small spreading tree. Size: Up to 6 m tall. Stem: Wide branching. Green, shiny and hairless when young becoming brown or greyish and moderately rough with age. Covered in sharp thorns which are sometimes hooked. Leaves: Consist of 3 leaflets which are egg or oval-shaped, 3-6 cm long, and with smooth edges. The middle leaflet is on a much longer stalk than the side leaflets. Flowers: Showy bright to dark red elongated clusters of 20-40 pea-like 4-5 cm long flowers. Fruit and Seeds: Large pods 8-22 cm long which ripen from green to dark brown, with slight constrictions between the seeds which are kidney shaped and shiny brown or black. Habitat: Parks, gardens, riparian areas, urban bushland. Distinguishing Features: Has smaller leaves than Common coral tree (Erythrina x sykesii), and narrower leaves with larger flowers than native Batswing coral tree (Erythrina vespertilio). Weed Status: Priority Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Common, Invasive Garden Escapee Lifeform: Shrubby, Woody/tree

Example images for this weed