Species Name (as per The IPNI) : Erythrina stricta Roxb.
Common name : Corky Coral Tree, Indian Coral Tree
Vernacular name : Phaledo (Nepali); Dhaul dhak (Hindi)
Habit : Tree
Habitat : Subtropical and Warm broad-leaved forests
Comments / notes : Flowers appearing before leaves
Key identification features : A large tree with trunk and branches covered with sharp conical whitish prickles, and with scarlet flowers in dense one-sided spike-like clusters occurring at the ends of stout leafless branches in spring
Flower, Fruit : February-April
Distribution :
Meghalaya : East Khasi Hills (Shillong) district
Native : Indian Subcontinent to S. China (Guangxi, Yunnan)
Exotic/Native : Native
World Distribution : Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, India, Laccadive Is., Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya
Literature : Oleg P & Adam S (1984). Flowers of Himalaya. Oxford University Press: 91; Grierson A.J.C & Long D.G (1983). Flora of Bhutan Vol.1 (3):683-684