River is home to magnificent coral trees

EDITOR – We have so much doom and gloom these days, so let's look at something very special on our river.

Have you seen the magnificent, broad-leaved coral trees on the south bank of the Amanzimtoti River at Hutchison Park?

The botanical name is Erythrina latissima, also known as the woolly coral tree. Eruthros from Greek means red.This gives a clue to its red flowers. Inspection shows these trees are very old indeed, around 200 years. That dates to before King Shaka named the river, to a time when elephants and buffaloes roamed freely in the valley. The seeds contain a muscle immobilising substance used by Bushmen as part of the poison on their arrows. Go and enjoy the sight of these magnificent trees in all their glory now.

BRUCE MUNRO