Erythrina afra old bole

The old Erythrina afra trunk surface is moderately coarse from thickening of the greyish bark and intermittent, discontinuous, longitudinal fissures.

Retained prickles are rare on lower trunks of old trees planted on city street pavements. Too much contact with whatever passes here all the time sees to that. In secluded forest conditions some of the prickles get a chance to persist (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).