Almendro, Tonka bean
Dipteryx oleifera

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 20-40 m high. The trunk is large and swollen at the base. It has rounded buttresses. The bark is smooth and flaky. It is light brown. The trunk can be 1 m across. The leaves are compound and alternate. They are 40 cm long. There are 10-20 leaflets. They are bright green. The flowers are in groups 40 cm long at the end of the branches. The flowers are 3 cm across. They are in large clusters. They are purple-pink. The fruit are oval and 4-6 cm long by 3 cm wide. There is one seed. The seed is in a soft woody shell. There is soft flesh around it in a shell.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude. It grows in the tropical lowlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, South America, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds are cooked by boiling and eaten. They are also roasted.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Almendro de montana, Almendro corozo, Amarillo, Choiba, Choiva, Ebo, Eboe, Ebu, Ibu, Igua sapi, Murube

Synonyms

Coumarouna oleifera (Benth.) Taub.; Coumarouna panamensis Pittier; Cumaruna oleifera (Benth.) Kuntze; Dipteryx panamensis (Pittier) Record & Mell; Oleiocarpon panamense (Pittier) Dwyer;