Bat’s Wing Coral Tree

Erythrina numerosa
Family: FABACEAE

Now is the time to get out to Prince Henry Drive, to see this glorious tree in flower. It’s really excelling itself this year.

This is also a great opportunity for birdwatchers to see the smaller honeyeaters which flock to the flowers.

If you’re like me, you’ll want to wear your bushwalking boots and get out three times along the route for a little walk down the slope, to appreciate this beautiful plant to the maximum.

If you're not into stopping and walking, do at least get someone else to drive you, so you have time to look across the hillside and appreciate just how many hundreds of these trees grow in this area. They tend to be inconspicuous until this time of the year, when they drop their leaves and blossom profusely.


The “batwing” leaves vary in shape according to the age of the trees, with those on young trees being particularly ornamental.





These coral trees grow naturally in and on the edges of dry rainforest. Their presence all over these slopes tells us that this environment was once extensive there.
There are few large trees in the area. Normally, we would expect to see them with diameters of up to 80cm, in the gullies and more sheltered places, but no doubt the fires which occasionally ravage the area keep them under control
Bat’s wing coral trees are easy to grow, provided they can be protected from frost in their early years. They also need to be protected from hares, wallabies, cattle, camels, etc, until their edible leaves and twigs reach a safe height.
Not everyone loves them, because of their prickles. The trunks of young plants, bristle with very sharp ones (which they need because so many animals find them tasty). I have found it worthwhile to go over the trunks of the trees in my garden with manicure clippers, to create something a bit more hand-friendly and child-safe.
NOTE, however, that the seeds of the tree are poisonous. They are bright red, and may be scattered in quantity on the ground around the tree in January and February. Children who might put the seeds in their mouths should not be allowed to play near these trees.
As the trees age, the bark tends to grow over the prickles, and old trees have smooth trunks. Removing the tips does mean that they disappear all the sooner.


The soft timber was regarded as valuable by aborigines, who used it for coolamons and shields. Coral tree shields were also used as a base, when making fire with the friction method. European settlers used it for floats for fishing nets, polo balls, and brake blocks for horse and bullock-drawn vehicles.
The very hard orange seeds have a long history of use for jewellery.