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51. Coral Bean 

 Erythrina 



CAUTION: The seeds of the coral bean contain a dangerous 

 poison, and neither they nor the pods should ever be eaten. The 

 young flowers are cooked and eaten like string beans. The 

 young leaves may also be cooked and eaten. The bean grows 

 on either a bush or a small tree armed with hard spines and is 

 found in almost all parts of the Caribbean region. The flowers 

 are bright red, and the bean-like seeds bright red or red and 

 black. In Cuba the plant is called bucare; in Costa Rica poro; 

 in Panama gallito; in northern Central America pito. 



