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Plant Profile

Cock's-spur (Erythrina eggersii)

This is a full shot of this small tree growing on the grounds at Fairchild Tropical Garden. Photo Credit: Jennifer Possley
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • State: PR, VI
  • Nature Serve ID: 138614
  • Lifeform: Tree, Shrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/01/1990
Description:

Erythrina eggersii is a spiny tree known only from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USFWS 1996). Currently, fewer than 75 plants remain in the wild (CPC 2002).

Where is Cock's-spur (Erythrina eggersii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Erythrina eggersii is found on limestone formations In Puerto Rico.

Distribution:

Erythrina eggersii is located on Puerto Rico and St. John Island (U.S. Virgin Islands).

States & Provinces:

Cock's-spur can be found in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Which CPC Partners conserve Cock's-spur (Erythrina eggersii)?

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley
  • 05/11/2023
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

According to a March 2023 extract of the Florida Plant Rescue Database, Naples Botanical Garden holds 7 accessions of Erythrina eggersii.

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

Four extant EOs with only 2 protected, total of less than 100 plants, but information is not recent (1983). Uncertainty about full range of the species. Inventory work is needed.

  • 01/01/2010

Habitat destruction is the primary threat.

  • 01/01/2010

On St. John Island, the species is known from four locations , all within the National Park (USFWS 1996). In Puerto Rico it is known from the northern Limestone Hills (USFWS 1996).

  • 01/01/2010

None known.

  • 01/01/2010

None known.

  • 01/01/2010

Populations need to be identified and protected. Information on this species general biology and ecology would aid in conservation efforts.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Erythrina eggersii
Authority Krukoff & Moldenke
Family Fabaceae
CPC Number 7012
ITIS 502436
USDA EREG
Duration Perennial
Common Names bucare | bucayo | Cock's-spur | coral | coral vegetal | Espuelo de Gallo | pinon | pinon espinoso | cock's spur
Associated Scientific Names Erythrina horrida | Erythrina eggersii
Distribution Erythrina eggersii is located on Puerto Rico and St. John Island (U.S. Virgin Islands).
State Rank
State State Rank
Puerto Rico S1
Virgin Islands
Ecological Relationships

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