Badminton ball tree, Shuttlecock tree, African locust tree
Parkia biglandulosa
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A large deciduous tree. It grows 25 m tall. The bark is grey-brown and slightly rough. The leaves are twice feathered. There are up to 40 pairs of side stalks and up to 100 pairs of very small crowded leaflets on each side stalk. The flowers are small and clustered in tight heads. These are 4 cm across. These are on stalks about 25 cm long. The higher flowers are bisexual and the lower flowers are male. The fruit is a long flat pod. It is on a very long stalk.
Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in mixed forests up to 1,500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa (country/location of origin), Asia, East Africa, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The seeds are usually boiled and made into cakes. They have a garlic like flavour. The sprouting seedlings are eaten. The contents of the pods are eaten. The roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Seeds, fruit, leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Chenduphul, Pohon patai gong, Sivalinga mara