Erythrina velutina
Encyclopedia
Erythrina velutina is a species
of leguminous tree
. It is indigenous to Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Hispaniola and has been introduced to much of the Caribbean, Uganda, and Sri Lanka. It also occurs on the Galápagos Islands, but whether it is indigenous or introduced there is unclear. In Brazil, it occurs on plains and near rivers in the arid parts of the northeast of the country and is commonly known as "mulungu". Erythrina velutina grows as a large tree to around 10 m (30 ft) high and has short spines on the stem. It is perennial.
The species was first described in 1801 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow
. Henry Nicholas Ridley
described Erythrina aurantiaca as a species from Fernando de Noronha
off the northeastern coast of Brazil, but this tree is now seen as only a form
of E. velutina, Erythrina velutina f. aurantiaca.
On Fernando de Noronha, it flowers in the dry season. There are 10 to 26 flowers per inflorescence
, of which one to eight open each day. Flowers open early in the morning, between 6 and 6:30 am. They remain open for two days, but produce nectar only the first day. All native land vertebrate
s of the island, including the Noronha dove (Zenaida auriculata noronha), vireo
(Vireo gracilirostris), elaenia
(Elaenia ridleyana), and skink
(Trachylepis atlantica), pollinate
the species on Fernando de Noronha. No other Erythrina species is pollinated by doves or lizards.
In northeastern Brazil, the bark of E. velutina is used in traditional medicine against sleepiness, convulsion
s, nervous coughs, and nervous excitation. Harvesting of bark for medicinal purposes poses a threat to the survival of the species; for this reason, several scientific studies of the medicinal effects of tree have used extract from the leaves instead. In laboratory mice and rats, E. velutina extract prolongs sleep, inhibits motorial
activity, and inhibits memory.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of leguminous tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
. It is indigenous to Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Hispaniola and has been introduced to much of the Caribbean, Uganda, and Sri Lanka. It also occurs on the Galápagos Islands, but whether it is indigenous or introduced there is unclear. In Brazil, it occurs on plains and near rivers in the arid parts of the northeast of the country and is commonly known as "mulungu". Erythrina velutina grows as a large tree to around 10 m (30 ft) high and has short spines on the stem. It is perennial.
The species was first described in 1801 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow
Carl Ludwig Willdenow
Carl Ludwig Willdenow was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants...
. Henry Nicholas Ridley
Henry Nicholas Ridley
Henry Nicholas Ridley CMG , MA , FRS, FLS, F.R.H.S. was an English botanist and geologist.Born at West Harling Hall, Norfolk, England...
described Erythrina aurantiaca as a species from Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, offshore from the Brazilian coast. The main island has an area of and had a population of 3,012 in the year 2010...
off the northeastern coast of Brazil, but this tree is now seen as only a form
Form (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, a form is one of the "secondary" taxonomic ranks, below that of variety, which in turn is below that of species; it is an infraspecific taxon...
of E. velutina, Erythrina velutina f. aurantiaca.
On Fernando de Noronha, it flowers in the dry season. There are 10 to 26 flowers per inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, of which one to eight open each day. Flowers open early in the morning, between 6 and 6:30 am. They remain open for two days, but produce nectar only the first day. All native land vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s of the island, including the Noronha dove (Zenaida auriculata noronha), vireo
Noronha Vireo
The Noronha Vireo is a species of bird in the Vireonidae family. It is endemic to the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. It is found in woodland, shrubland and gardens. It resembles the Chivi Vireo, but its plumage is significantly duller and the bill longer.-References:* BirdLife...
(Vireo gracilirostris), elaenia
Noronha Elaenia
The Noronha Elaenia is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family.It is endemic to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Large Elaenia....
(Elaenia ridleyana), and skink
Noronha skink
The Noronha skink is a species of skink from the island of Fernando de Noronha off northeastern Brazil. It is covered with dark and light spots on the upperparts and is usually about 7 to 10 cm in length. The tail is long and muscular, but breaks off easily...
(Trachylepis atlantica), pollinate
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
the species on Fernando de Noronha. No other Erythrina species is pollinated by doves or lizards.
In northeastern Brazil, the bark of E. velutina is used in traditional medicine against sleepiness, convulsion
Convulsion
A convulsion is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body. Because a convulsion is often a symptom of an epileptic seizure, the term convulsion is sometimes used as a synonym for seizure...
s, nervous coughs, and nervous excitation. Harvesting of bark for medicinal purposes poses a threat to the survival of the species; for this reason, several scientific studies of the medicinal effects of tree have used extract from the leaves instead. In laboratory mice and rats, E. velutina extract prolongs sleep, inhibits motorial
Motor neuron
In vertebrates, the term motor neuron classically applies to neurons located in the central nervous system that project their axons outside the CNS and directly or indirectly control muscles...
activity, and inhibits memory.
Literature cited
- 2010. Erythrina velutina. LegumeWeb, International Legume Database & Information Service, version 10.01. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- Carvalho, A.C.C.S., Almeida, D.S., Meloa, M.G.D., Cavalcanti, S.C.H. and Marc, R.M. 2009. Evidence of the mechanism of action of Erythrina velutina Willd (Fabaceae) leaves aqueous extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 122:374–378.
- Dantas, M.C., de Oliveira, F.S., Bandeira, S.M., Batista, J.S., Silva, C.D., Jr., Alves, P.B., Antoniolli, A.R. and Marchioro, M. 2004. Central nervous system effects of the crude extract of Erythrina velutina on rodents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 94:129–133.
- Fawcett, W. and Rendle, A.B. 1920. Flora of Jamaica, containing descriptions of the flowering plants known from the island. Volume IV, Dicotyledons, families Leguminosae to Callitrichaceae. London: published by order of the Trustees of the British Museum.
- Krukoff, B.A. 1979. Notes on the species of Erythrina. XII. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 66(3):422–445.
- Rabelo, L.A., Agra, M. de F., Leitão da-Cunha, E.V., Silva, M.S. da and Barbosa-Filho, J.M. 2001. Homohesperetin and phaseollidin from Erythrina velutina. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 29:543–544.
- Sazima, I., Sazima, C. and Sazima, M. 2009. A catch-all leguminous tree: Erythrina velutina visited and pollinated by vertebrates at an oceanic island (subscription required). Australian Journal of Botany 57:26–30.