Erythrina crista-galli cockspur coral tree

Erythrina crista-galli flowers. John Rawlings, 8 Jan 2005

Erythrina crista-galli, aptly named cockspur coral tree for its flowers, is growing in the Arizona Garden in the small bed northwest of the large tree yucca in the center. In Palo Alto, magnificent specimens can be seen at 690 Waverley Street, at the intersection with Forest Avenue, and at the north corner of the Tea House at Gamble Garden. A stout tree is at 740 University Avenue in Menlo Park, on the right.

Erythrina crista-galli, Arizona Garden. John Rawlings, 8 Jan 2005

From: Howard E. McMinn & Evelyn Maino, An Illustrated Manual of Pacific Coast Trees, 1951

Name derivation: Erythrina – Greek erythros (red): allusion to flower color; crista-galli – Latin gallus, rooster, and crista, crest = cock’s comb.