'Planted by Mr C. Whitney (later Sir Cecil), son of Major Whitney, founder of the Colonial Ammunition Company (C.A.C).
Over the years, the Whitney's did a great deal of planting in the general factory area. The results are evident from photographs of the site taken from 1886 onwards.
Just as the 'shot tower' has a relationship with the now defunct C.A.C, so does this Erythrina, which is the sole survivor from the once extensive planting around the factory.
This factory was nationally important for its manufacture of ammunition for NZ. and Australian Armed Forces prior to and during World War II (Shepherd, W., 1986).