Erythrina verna aka Mulung

Erythrina verna is known as mulungu. It belongs to Fabaceae, the pea family. Its native range spans Bolivia and eastern and southern Brazil. This range lies in the wet tropics. The tree grows in rainforest. It also grows in forests that shed some leaves with the seasons. It favours drier sites and open ground in these forests. It also grows where woodland has begun to return.

This tree grows fast and sheds its leaves for part of the year. It can also grow in a shrub-like form. Garden sources give its height and spread as 39 feet [12 metres]. Other accounts give heights of 33–66 feet [10–20 metres]. Its low crown has an open shape. The spiny trunk may split into several stems. Thick, corky bark covers the trunk. Trunks can be about 1.3–2.3 feet [0.4–0.7 metres] across.

The flowers give the tree much of its landscape value. Insects and hummingbirds bring pollen to the blooms. The tree is self-fertile: its own pollen can fertilise its flowers. A photo also shows a bird taking nectar from blooms. The accounts give no bloom season or facts about fruit. Grow it in full sun, not shade. It accepts sand, loam, and clay if water drains well. Soil can range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. It can be dry or moist. Once established, plants cope with drought. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12.

People grow mulungu for its looks and for shade in cocoa plantations. Its fast growth also suits work to restore native woodland. It draws wildlife and forms root nodules with soil bacteria. These bacteria take nitrogen from the air. The tree uses some of this nitrogen. Nearby plants may gain from it too. People use its light wood for boxes and paper pulp. The wood does not last well when exposed to moisture. Fresh seed can sprout within 10–20 days. Young plants grow fast. They may reach planting size within four months.

Indigenous peoples in Brazil have long used the bark as a sedative. Reported uses include easing agitation and helping sleep. Researchers have found flavonoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids in the tree. These uses as medicine do not prove home use is safe. PFAF lists no edible uses. Useful Tropical Plants urges care about swallowing any of it. It notes that alkaloid levels in this species remain uncertain.