Acotope, Punctate inga
Inga punctata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 6-15 m tall. The crown is broad and spreading. The trunk is straight and 30 cm across. The leaves have leaflets in 4 to 6 pairs. The leaflets at the end are larger. The leaf stalk does not have wings.

There are 350 Inga species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands in wet and moist forests. It grows between 120-1,350 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The spongy layer around the seeds is eaten fresh. The seeds are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit - aril, pod pulp

How it is grown

Plants grow easily from fresh seeds. Seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks given moisture and shade.

Trees are fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Acotope, Ajujecco fino, Bitze, Cansa boca, Caspiro, Cerel, Chelele, Cuajiniquil, Goenboeba weko, Guaba, Guabito cansa boca, Guama, Guamo, Imik sampi, Inga-chata, Ixcapirol, Kala-weko, Kanashi pakay, Nacaspiro, Paterno, Patunga fino, Pepeto, Pepito, Pi shiichi, Putunga fino, Taastk, Tsiaya pene, Tzelel, Vaina

Synonyms

Feuilleea leptoloba (Schldl.) Kuntze; Feuilleea punctata (Willd.) Kuntze; Feuilleea strigillosa (Sprce ex Benth.) Kuntze; Inga ierensis Britton; Inga leptoloba Schldl.; Inga popayanensis Pittier; Inga punctata Willd. subsp. charrensis Pittier; Inga punctata Willd. var. panamensis Benth.; Mimosa sericea Poiret; and others