Black nittatree
Parkia nitida

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tall tree. It grows 35 m tall. The trunk is light brown and smooth. The leaves are compound and twice divided. The leaves are almost opposite. The flowers are white in round balls. The fruit are pods 15-32 cm long by 7-9 cm wide. There are 8-13 seeds. These are narrowly oval and black.

Also as Mimosaceae. The bark is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The young fruit pods are eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit pods

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ajo, Arapary branco, Arara-tucupi, Bellaco caspi, Black manariballi, Caro blanco, Cor, Dormilon, Emu ca'je, Fava esponja, Faveira, Ginetawebe, Goma pashaca, Guarango, Paric, Pellijo de sapo, Talar, Visgueiro

Synonyms

Parkia alliodora Ducke; Parkia arborea (H. Karsten) J. F. Macbr.; Parkia ingens Ducke; Parkia inundabilis Ducke; Parkia oppositifolia Spruce ex Benth.; Parkia paryphosphaera Benth.; Parkia sylvatica Pulle; Paryphosohaera arborea H. Karst.;