Inga capitata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-14 m high. The crown in dense and rounded. The trunk is crooked and 20-30 cm across. The leaves are compound. They have 2 or 3 pairs of opposite leaflets. The leaflets are 6-13 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The flowers are in the axils of leaves on stalks 6-10 cm long. The fruit are flattened pods.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid forests in the Amazon.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The aril or layer around the seeds is eaten raw.

The trees are occasionally cultivated around houses. It is only occasionally eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit - aril, pod pulp

How it is grown

The plants are grown from seeds. Seeds are collected from ripe pods. They are planted fresh. Seedlings emerge in 30-40 days.

Plants grow rapidly.

Its other names

Local names

Aague, Aawe, Aguatahue, Ampoukou oueko, Aonabo, Awatawe, Biriquihue, Cosi pene, Guaba de lluvia, Guamo negro, Inga-acu, Inga-chichica, Inga-costela, Inga-dura, Inga-ferradura, Inga-xixica, Jadakua, Kina pakay, Mimonton, Mololo pi'tsan, Monde ag, Purutu kaspi, Quini'cco fino, Quiuna pacay, Rumi pakay, Sampi, Shimbillo, Toika aon, Unjinga fino, Warakosa, Wegowetenpou, Wewetenpoyo, Yakum sampi, Yngatawa'y

Synonyms

Feuilleea capitata (Desv.) Kuntze; Inga albicans Walp.; Inga calycina Salzm.; Inga capitata var. latifolia Ducke; Inga capuchoi Standl.; Inga falcistipula Ducke; Inga peduncularis Mart. ex Benth.; Inga sarmentosa Glaz. ex Harms;