Heterophyllus inga
Inga heterophylla

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 12 m tall. The twigs are thin. The leaves are compound. The leaflets are leathery. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit is a pod that can be straight or curved. It is 8-16 cm long by 1-2 cm wide and 0.6 cm thick. The pods is green or yellow and swollen over the seeds. There are about 14 seeds. The pod pulp is sweet and edible.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

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

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is edible.

Edible parts

Fruit - aril, pod pulp

How it is grown

Plants grow easily from seeds. Seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks given moisture and shade.

Its other names

Local names

Guabo de mono, Guamo cajeto, Guamo copero, Guamo morrocoyero, Inga chichica, Inga-de-macaco. Inga-xixica, Ingai, Pacai, Warakosa

Synonyms

Feuilleea heterophylla (Willd.) Kuntze; Feuilleea stenocarpa (Spruce) Kuntze; Inga mapiriensis Pittier; Inga protracta Steudel; Inga stenocarpa Benth.; Inga umbellata G. Don; Inga vouapaefolia Benth.; Mimosa parae Poir.;