Erythrina lysistemon flowering

The flowers of Erythrina lysistemon are densely clustered in heads growing on brown stalks, almost as long as the heads. A head may be 9 cm long. The flowers point outwards nearly horizontally, only on those heads borne erectly.

The flowers are scarlet or bright red, while pink and white varieties are occasionally seen. The tubular, two-lipped calyx enclosing the back end of the corolla is dull grey-brown. The long, folded standard petal (12 mm) encloses much of each flower, even when fully open. Some exserted stamens can be spotted in the photo.

Flowering usually starts during late winter and spring before any leaves have appeared on these deciduous trees. The photo was taken during September near Roossenekal.

The seeds grow in a slender pod that turns black when ripe. There are marked constrictions between the individual red seeds in the pod (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993).