Cylindrical inga
Inga cylindrica

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-15 m high. The trunk is 50-60 cm across. The leaves are compound. They are 15-20 cm long with 4 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are oval and opposite. The fruit is a pod. It is 15-20 cm long. There are 10-15 seeds. These are 13-14 mm long by 8-10 mm wide.

There are 350 Inga species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Bolivia they grow up to 700 m altitude. They occur in areas with rainfall of 1,000-1,500 mm per year.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, pod pulp

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seed are removed from the ripe pods and not allowed to dry out but planted fresh. Seeds germinate in 10-20 days. Seedlings are transplanted in 4-5 months.

Plants grow quickly in the field. They can be over 2 m high in 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Cuajiniquil, Inga, Inga-feijao, Pacay rosario

Synonyms

Feuilleea cylindrica (Vell.) Kuntze; Feuilleea tenuifolia (Benth.) Kuntze; Inga albicoria Poncy; Inga polystachya Benth.; Inga tenuifolia Benth.; Mimosa cylindrica Vell.;