Bigleaf inga
Inga macrophylla

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-14 m high. The crown is dense and rounded. The young branches are angular. The trunk is short and 20-35 cm across. The leaves are compound. There are 3-4 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are in crowded groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a flattened pod that is angular. It is 20-45 cm long by 3-5 cm wide and 1-1.5 cm thick. The pods contain 15-30 seeds.

There are 350 Inga species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the humid lowlands and up to 1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia (country/location of origin), Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru (country/location of origin), South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The aril of layer around the seeds is sweet and eaten.

It is widely cultivated for its sweet fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit - aril, pod pulp

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds are collected from ripe pods. The layer around the seeds is removed before planting. Seeds should be planted fresh. They are best in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 10-20 days.

Plants grown rapidly. A mature tree can produce 100-150 fruit in a season.

Its other names

Local names

Cahuabari, Goi bene, Guaba paltacha, Guacho del mico, Guama de araguato, Guamo verde, Inga-acu, Inga chata, Inga-chinelo, Inga facao, Inga pena, Inga-peua, Naranjo podrido, Pacae, Pacai amarillo, Pacay, Pairahu, Shimbillo, Vaca paleta

Synonyms

Feuilleea bracteosa (Benth.) Kuntze; Feuilleea macrophylla (Hum. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kuntze; Inga alatocarpa T. S. Elias; Inga brachyptera Benth.; Inga bracteosa Benth.; Inga calocephala Poeppig; and others