Cat's claw, Black bead tree
Pithecellobium unguis-cati

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small shrub or small tree. It grows 20 m tall. It is very spiny. The trunk can be 1.2 m across. It often has a low branches and a wide crown. The bark is brown and cracked. The leaves are alternate and compound. The leaves are twice divided. There are 4 leaflets about 3-5 cm long. The flowers are white on a spike. The fruit is a pod 5-10 cm long. It is curved or coiled. It splits open when ripe. The seeds are black and shiny with a fleshy aril of layer around them.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry areas. It grows on sand dunes and coastal strands. It can grow up to 450 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Anguilla, Antilles, Asia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burundi, Caribbean, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, East Africa, El Salvador, French Guiana, Ghana, Grenadines, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico (country/location of origin), Myanmar, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, Seychelles, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Tanzania, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The pulp around the seeds is eaten.

It is only eaten occasionally.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit - pulp

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can be clipped and pruned.

Its other names

Local names

Aranca pellejo, Black bead, Bread & Cheese, Campeche, Dinde, Espino carbon, Espinuelo, Kanpes, Pohon cakar kucing, Yaga dabaruida

Synonyms

Inga rosea Steudel; Mimosa rosea Vahl; Mimosa unguis-cati L.; Pithecellobium microphyllum Benth.; Zygia unguis-cati (L.) Sudw.;