Common name: Bat-Wing Coral Tree
Erythrina vespertilio Benth. APNI* 
Description: Tree 5–12 m high, with corky bark and usually stout prickles on trunk and branches, glabrous.
Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets broad-triangular and ± 3-lobed or lateral lobes broad and narrow and central lobe reduced or absent, 2–10 cm long, 4–12 cm wide, glabrous; petiole 4.5–8 cm long; lateral petiolules c. 0.8 cm long, terminal petiolule 2–6 cm long.
Raceme 10–30 cm long, erect, c. 15-flowered; flowers pendulous. Calyx c. 15 mm long. Corolla scarlet; standard oblong, c. 30 mm long.
Pod linear, often falcate, 5–10 cm long; seeds 2–4, ovoid, c. 13 mm long, red.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on margins of dry rainforest, north from Grafton area; sometimes cultivated.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. S.A. N.T.
E. sp. 'Croftby' (Forster 6209), the Pine Mountain Corkwood, has often been considered a separate species, however, it is now included in the widespread, variable E. vespertilio. This taxon was recorded for Mebbin S.F. in 1966.
Text by G.J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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