Guaba de zorro
Inga insignis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Inga insignis or Guaba de Zorro is a tropical tree growing up to 10 m in height and can be found in South America. It has compound leaves that are reddish-green in color when young and turn brownish when old. The flowers are green or yellow. The fruits are green pods covered with white hairs. The trunk is cylindrical, reaching a diameter of up to 35 cmm and usually branching near the base. The fruit is edible, with a sweet-tasting white pulp surrounding the seeds. The tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria and capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Inga insignis is a TREE growing to 8 m (26ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 8

Where it is found

Not known

S. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Colombia; Ecuador; Peru, South America,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. The sweet-tasting white pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten. The seedpod is 14 - 18cm long and up to 2.5cm wide.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 0

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

A tropical plant. It can grow on poor soils. It can tolerate long dry seasons. In Ecuador it grows between 1,450-2,850 m above sea level. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Guaba de zorro

Synonyms

Feuilleea insignis (Kunth) Kuntze