Erythrina brucei (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Erythrina brucei Fabaceae Indigenous, endemic in Ethiopia

• Agewgna: Buri
• Amargna: Ergofit, Kermo ayederk, Korch
• Bertagna: Embelish
• Kefgna: Colacho
• Oromugna: Wolensu

A tree found only in Ethiopia. It is widespread in open woodland, upland forest edges or grasslands of the Moist and Wet Kolla and Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones in nearly all regions, 1,400‑2,600 m.

Firewood, carving (bee‑hives, mortars, drums), medicine (bark, roots), fodder (leaves), bee forage, ornamental, mulch, nitrogen fixation, soil conservation, live fence, necklaces and curios (seeds), ceremonial.

A small usually deciduous tree, usually 5–10 m, with a single trunk but thick spreading branches to a rounded crown.

• BARK: Thick and corky, branches prickly.
• LEAVES: Compound, with 3 oval leaflets, not hairy, the middle one stalked and largest to 23 x 16 cm, nerves below and leaf stalks prickly.
• FLOWERS: In big heads on the bare tree, orange-red, occasionally pale yellow, each flower with a brown hairy calyx to 3 cm, split on one side and a red petal to 5 cm.
• FRUIT: Long leathery pods to 15 cm split open along both sides, 2–4 red seeds with white patches lie in soft white tissue.

Seedlings, cuttings.

Low germination rate. About 6,800 seed per kg.

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Seed can be stored for long periods if it is kept cool, dry and free from insects.

Pollarding, coppicing.

The tree is grown easily from large cuttings, 5–10 cm in diameter. It is traditionally used for live fences. It stands heavy pollarding and leaves are fed to cattle, though the leaf crop is not heavy. Along river courses, the tree may not shed its leaves any time of the year as opposed to trees growing in areas that have seasonal moisture stress. The tree is recommended for live fencing, stream-bank and boundary planting and for soil conservation. It is moderately fire and termite resistant.