Tonka Bean, Brazilian Teak
Dipteryx odorata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Other common names include Brazilian Teak, Kumaru, and Cumarú de Cheiro. Dipteryx odorata or Tonka Beans is a tropical flowering tree native to Central America and northern South America. It grows up to 25-30 m with trunk diameter of about 1 m. It has a smooth and grey bark, alternate pinnate leaves that are glossy and dark green, and flowers that are pink. The crown is small and round. It is known for its seeds that are black and wrinkled, and have a strong fragrance due to high coumarin content. The seeds are used in perfumery and as a vanilla substitute. It is also used in French cuisine. However, commercial use of this as flavouring has been banned in some countries, particularly the USA. The seeds can also be used in the treatment of stomach pain, cough, and dysentery. The bark is astringent and febrifuge. The leaves can be used for earache.

Dipteryx odorata is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 20 m (65ft) 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 and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 30

Where it is found

A canopy and emergent tree of rainforests, often beside rivers.

Northern and western S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Colombia; French Guiana; Guyana; Peru; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of; Bolivia, Plurinational State of; Brazil, Amazon, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, French Guiana, Guianas, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Peru, SE Asia, Seychelles, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

A coumarin-like flavouring can be extracted from the seed through a process of fermentation. It has been used commercially as a vanilla substitute in flavouring a wide range of foods including baked goods, ice cream, cocoa etc. Its use is banned in some countries because of the possibility that coumarins can cause health problems - see notes above on toxicity. The seed pods are 5 - 6cm long and about 3cm in diameter. The pulp inside the seedpod is eaten raw. Seed - eaten after boiling to get rid of toxins.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Seedpod: things such as Okra, French and Runner beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The bark is astringent and febrifuge. A decoction, combined with the crushed whole plant of Tonina fluviatilis, is used to prepare an infant fortifier. The fragrant seeds are a rich source of coumarin. They are considered to be antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, cardiotonic and emmenagogue. A decoction of the seed and sugar is used as a cold remedy. The seed is mixed with rum to make a tincture that is rubbed on snakebite, contusions and rheumatism. The seeds have been used in the past to treat whooping cough, but recent research has shown that the aromatic coumarins they contain can have detrimental effects upon the heart and liver, and may also cause cancer. The oil from the seeds is used to alleviate stomach aches, to treat sores in the mouth, to fortify the scalp and improve hair growth. It is said to be effective in controlling dysentery. A cold water infusion of the leaves is used as an ear wash to treat earache. The leaves are crushed to make a snuff powder. The seed contains coumarin, which is used in perfume and for flavouring tobacco and whisky. Bark contains isoflavones and umbelliferone. The leaves contains salicylic, hydroxycoumaric, coumaric and ferulic acids.

Antiasthmatic: Treats asthma.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Cardiotonic: A tonic for the heart.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Mouthwash: Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.

Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.

Other

Rating: 4

Agroforestry Uses: The trees are grown to provide shade in cocoa plantations. Other Uses: Coumarin, obtained from the seeds, is added to perfumes as a fixative. It is also an aromatic ingredient in tobaccos and snuffs. The seeds are used in pot pourri. The fresh heartwood is a reddish-brown or purplish-brown colour with attractive light yellowish-brown or purplish streaks, seasoning to a variegated reddish and yellowish brown but after exposure to light gradually becoming a uniform yellowish brown or light brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the 3 - 5cm wide band of brownish yellow or yellowish brown sapwood. The texture is fine; lustre medium; the grain irregular to often interlocked; no distinctive taste but a faint vanilla-like or rancid odour; a waxy or oily feel is also a characteristic of the wood. It is an extremely hard and heavy wood, similar to lignum vitae (Guaiacum spp.) in this respect. The wood is also very strong, very dense, tough and very resistant to decay when in contact with the soil. It is difficult to work because of its high density and hardness; hard to saw and bore, but if sawn or bored clean edges and holes result; when severely interlocked grain is not present, the wood planes and finishes to a smooth surface; it glues poorly, as do many other woods of very high density, but takes a high polish. When unpainted wood is exposed to the elements, it weathers well as to surface smoothness and freedom from warp and checking. The wood is used extensively for cogs and shafts, heavy construction, turnery, fishing rods, paving blocks, barge and dock fenders, and flooring. The wood is particularly well adapted for use in tool handles, agricultural implements, sporting goods, and other uses utilizing its high bending strength and good shock resistance qualities. The somewhat oily nature of the wood and its hardness allow its use for bearings, cogs, shafts, and other uses in place of lignum vitae, where friction wear is a problem. It makes excellent wood for railway crossties and posts, for it is durable and does not split when exposed to the elements. This wood should also do exceptionally well as boat keels and frames, ice sheathing, industrial flooring, and specialty items requiring a strong durable wood. Small quantities have been shipped into the United States for high-grade face veneer.

Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.

Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.

Hair: Plants used as hair shampoos, tonics, to treat balding etc.

Pot-pourri: Aromatic plants used to impart a pleasant smell to an area. Can this be grouped with incense or essential oil?

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

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

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

A plant of the moister tropics, preferring a temperature that does not usually fall below about 15°c. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 16 - 34°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 2,000 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 1,300 - 4,000mm. Succeeds in full sun or light shade. Succeeds in a wide range of soils as long as they are well-drained, though it prefers a well-drained gravelly or sandy acid soil with ample rainfall and humidity. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 8.5. Established plants can tolerate a certain amount of drought. Seedling trees take about 5 years before they begin producing fruits. Trees can commence production when just two years old if carefully cultivated, taking 7 - 10 years without cultivation. Local varieties had been developed in Brazil and Venezuela. 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 - it has a very short viability and needs to be sown as soon as it is ripe. Best sown in situ or in individual containers, since seedlings do not transplant well, fresh seed germinates in about 6 weeks.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

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

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The seeds contain 1 - 3% coumarins. When ingested, these can cause damage to the heart and liver and cause cancer.

Its other names

Local names

Tonka Bean, Brazilian Teak, Tonka Bean, Cumarú de Cheiro, cumaru-de-cheiro cumaru-do-amazonas cumaru-verdadeiro cumarurana cumaruzeiro dutch tonka dutch tonka-bean fava tonka fève tonka haba tonka sarrapia tonga-bean tongo tongo bean tonka tonka bean tonka, bean tonka-bean tonkabohne tonkabohnenbaum tonkaböna, Cimaru, Coumarou, Tonquin bean, Cumaru, Dutch Tonka bean, Gaiac, Guayac, Karapa Bossi, Muirapaye, Choiba, Sarrapia,

Synonyms

Coumarouna micrantha (Harms) Ducke Coumarouna odorata Aubl. Dipteryx micrantha Harms