Botanical Jewelry Addendum

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Botanical Jewelry Addendum

Colorful Seeds Used In Jewelry

Fabaceae: Legume Family

Seeds Of Erythrina & Ormosia

The striking half-red, half-black seeds of the tropical African coral tree (Erythrina perrieri) and a beautiful Hawaiian necklace.

Only one of these red and black seeds (black arrow) is from the coral tree (Erythrina perrieri). The others came from the Australian carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), a member of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). Three red and black seeds are produced in each capsule. Unlike coral beans of the legume family (Fabaceae), the colorful outer layer (aril) of carrot wood seeds erodes away, exposing the inner black seed coat. The remarkable color resemblance of the seeds of these two species may be an adaptation to attract birds or other animals in their native habitats.

Red and black seeds from the Australian carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), a member of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). The colorful, outer red layer (aril) readily peels away, exposing the inner black seed coat. The fleshy red arid on these seeds may be an adaptation to attract birds or other animals in its native habitat.

Seeds of two unusual species of coral trees with a remarkable size variation: The bean-sized half-red, half-black Erythrina perrieri from tropical Africa, and the gigantic E. megistophylla from South America.

Seeds of the Asian coral tree (Erythrina variegata) are buoyant in seawater and may have drifted to distant shores of the tropical Pacific. In fact, this species (or its progenitor) may have given rise to several species of endemic coral trees in the tropical Pacific region.

Seeds and pods of the Asian coral tree (Erythrina variegata). The pods of this species are longer than most cultivated coral trees, often up to 12 inches (30 cm) or more in length.

Another species of necklace tree (Ormosia dasycarpa) native to the West Indies. The seeds have a small black spot on one end.

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