Erythrina variegata L. 

മുരിക്ക്

Family : LEGUMINOSAE

Synonym :

Erythrina indica Lam.

Common Names : Kalyana, Mullumurukku, Murukku, Indian coral tree, Tiger's claw

Flowering Period : March-April

Distribution : Indo-Malesia, China and Africa

Habitat : Dry deciduous forests, widely grown as pepper stand and for fencing

Uses : The young, tender leaves and young sprouts are eaten as a vegetable. The leaves and bark contain the poison erythrinine, which acts upon the nervous system. The bark is astringent and anthelmintic. A decoction of the bark and leaves is used to treat dysentery. A decoction of the leaves has been used to treat mastitis. The crushed fresh leaves are used topically as a poultice in the treatment of haemorrhoids and metroptosis. The dried, powdered leaves are applied topically to treat wounds and ulcers. Blackened dried leaves are worn for their scent. The white wood is ground into a powder and used as a face powder. The wood can smoulder for a long time without going out and so is traditionally used for keeping a fire in the house.

Key Characters :

Deciduous trees; bark yellowish or greenish-grey, smooth, peeling off in papery flakes; prickles black on branches, falling after a few years. Leaves trifoliate, alternate, leaflet 10-13.5 x 8.5-12.5 cm, widely ovate, rhomboid or deltoid-ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate or obtuse, margin entire, glabrous, membranous; stipules small, lateral; rachis 17-21 cm, slender, pulvinate, glabrous; stipels gland-like; petiolule 7-10 mm, stout, glabrous; 3 ribbed from base; lateral nerves 4-7 pairs, pinnate, prominent, ascending, intercostae reticulate, faint. Flowers bisexual, bright red, in dense racemes. Calyx spathaceous, oblique, recurved, split to the base on one side, 5-toothed at the tip. Petals 5, sessile ; standard 6.5×2.5 cm, oblong-elliptic, apex obtuse ; wings 1.5 x 1 cm, obovate ; keel 1. 5 x 1.7 cm, oblong-falcate, free. Stamens 10, monadelphous, alternately longer and shorter, vexillary filament free; anthers uniform. Ovary stipitate, inferior, pubescent,1-celled, ovules many; style curved, subulate at the apex, not bearded; stigma capitate. Fruit a pod 15-30.5 cm long, torulose, constricted between seeds, dehiscent; seeds 6-8.