Cockspur coral tree
Erythrina crista-galli
family
Fabaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Brazillian coral tree, Cry baby tree, Fireman's cap.
A broadly spreading tree growing up to 6m tall. The stems are sparsely covered in sharp thorns. Its leaves are divided into three elongated leaflets. Its scarlet red to dark red pea-shaped flowers are borne in large elongated clusters at the tips of the branches. Its elongated, dark brown, pods are slightly constricted between each of the shiny mottled seeds.
Impact
Impact
This tree is an emerging environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales. Though it currently has a scattered distribution, it is quickly becoming more widespread and common in the coastal districts of eastern Australia., It has now escaped cultivation and is invading natural areas, particularly along waterways and in wetlands., Cockspur coral tree is currently listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions., It is of most concern in the coastal districts of south-eastern Queensland and central and northern New South Wales. In south-eastern Queensland it is ranked among the top 200 most invasive plants, and is most commonly found in highly disturbed low-lying swampy areas that do not have much tree cover. In New South Wales it is most troublesome in the Wilsons and Richmond River catchments on the north coast. , However, it also appears on environmental weed lists for the, In its native Argentina, cockspur coral tree is reported to form pure stands on the periodically flooded shores and islands in the Plate River estuary. Therefore, it may have the potential to form such stands in low-lying wetland areas and floodplains in the tropical, sub-tropical and warmer temperate coastal regions of Australia.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
This tree is an emerging environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales. Though it currently has a scattered distribution, it is quickly becoming more widespread and common in the coastal districts of eastern Australia., It has now escaped cultivation and is invading natural areas, particularly along waterways and in wetlands., Cockspur coral tree is currently listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions., It is of most concern in the coastal districts of south-eastern Queensland and central and northern New South Wales. In south-eastern Queensland it is ranked among the top 200 most invasive plants, and is most commonly found in highly disturbed low-lying swampy areas that do not have much tree cover. In New South Wales it is most troublesome in the Wilsons and Richmond River catchments on the north coast. , However, it also appears on environmental weed lists for the, In its native Argentina, cockspur coral tree is reported to form pure stands on the periodically flooded shores and islands in the Plate River estuary. Therefore, it may have the potential to form such stands in low-lying wetland areas and floodplains in the tropical, sub-tropical and warmer temperate coastal regions of Australia.
