Fauna
Plant

Redhot Poker Tree

Erythrina abyssinica

Also known as Abyssinian Coral Tree, Lucky Bean Tree, Flame Tree

Redhot poker trees command attention across African savannas with fiery clusters of scarlet blossoms that burst forth on bare branches before the rainy season. Their deeply furrowed, corky bark and thick, thorny branchlets provide sturdy perches for sunbirds and other pollinators seeking rich nectar. The bright red seeds with black spots drop from woody pods in late summer, remaining visible around the tree base for months.

Showy FlowersNitrogen FixerSavanna Tree
Redhot Poker Tree reference1 / 7
(c) Mike Musgrave, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mike Musgrave · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Minerals
Predators
  • Wood-boring beetles
  • Browsing livestock
  • Elephants
ThreatsAgricultural land clearing, firewood harvesting, over-collection for traditional medicine
HabitatsSavannas, open woodlands, wooded grasslands, rocky hillsides
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderFabales
  2. FamilyFabaceae
  3. GenusErythrina
  4. SpeciesErythrina abyssinica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Seeds contain toxic alkaloids; do not ingest and keep out of reach of children and pets.
Why it is dangerous
Seeds contain poisonous erythroidine alkaloids with curare-like paralyzing effects if ingested in quantity.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize the bright red, glossy seeds with a prominent black spot spilling from woody pods.
What to do
Examine pods and seeds on the tree or ground without ingesting any plant parts.
Responsible observation
  • Look for Flowers: Check bare branches during the late dry season for brilliant scarlet spikes.
  • Inspect the Bark: Examine the deeply corky, yellow-brown bark adapted to withstand savanna fires.
  • Watch for Sunbirds: Position near blooming trees to photograph active nectar-feeding birds.
Related species
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