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mulungu

Erythrina velutina Willd.

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Erythrina

coral tree, Brazilian coral tree

Secondary I High Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🪓 Coppices after cutting
Tatiana Gerus from Brisbane, Australia · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons

Brazilian-native nitrogen-fixing tree legume; propagates easily by cuttings and produces abundant fertilizer biomass. Cited by Pasini among tree-form fertilizer biomass species. Red flowers attract pollinators.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Chirocalyx velutinus (Willd.) Walp., Corallodendron velutinum (Willd.) Kuntze, Erythrina aurantiaca Ridl., Erythrina splendida Diels

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Early secondary
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Medium
Biomass class
Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Moderate
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Clayey

Morphology

Mature height
8–15 m
Recommended spacing
5 m
Growth rate
Fast

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Mulungu takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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Emergent High · ≈15 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Fast-growing, drought-hardy Caatinga pioneer and N-fixer (Rhizobium-nodulated); scarify the hard seed and sow direct or in tall bags — vegetative propagation by cuttings is unreliable for THIS species (unlike many Erythrinas), so raise from seed. Heliophyte, frost-intolerant; tolerates poor sandy/clay colluvial-alluvial soils and seasonal flooding. Coppices strongly from the stump and, being spiny, works as a living fence; historically shade over coffee (CE) and cacao (BA).

✂️ Management & Pruning

No natural self-pruning; coppices intensely from the stump. Prune for form and remove water-sprouts. Works as a spiny living fence.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: August, September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: September, October, November, December, January, February, March

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for mulungu?

The recommended spacing for mulungu is 5 m.

How tall does mulungu grow?

At maturity, mulungu reaches 8–15 m tall.

When does mulungu fruit?

Fruiting of mulungu occurs in September, October, November, December, January, February, March.

When does mulungu flower?

Flowering of mulungu occurs in August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does mulungu occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, mulungu belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.

Does mulungu fix nitrogen?

Yes — mulungu is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🌿 Biomass producer Living fence 🐝 Attracts pollinators Medicinal Ornamental

Propagation

Seed, Cutting

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Acumulação , p. 117 (gotsch_stage, biomass_class, nitrogen_fixer)
  2. Erythrina velutina — Embrapa
  3. Erythrina velutina — Embrapa (nitrogen_fixer)
  4. EMBRAPA Circular Técnica 160 — Mulungu (Erythrina velutina), Carvalho 2008 (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, waterlogging_tolerance, soil_texture_preference, pruning_notes, phenology, cultivation_notes)
  5. Useful Tropical Plants — Erythrina velutina (waterlogging_tolerance)
  6. IPNI / Flora do Brasil — Erythrina velutina Willd. (external_ids, synonyms)

External references

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