Inga, Ice-cream bean
Inga sessilis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 12-20 m tall. The crown is wide and the branches are angular. The trunk is smooth and 20-40 cm across. The leaves are compound. There are 6-9 pairs of leaflets. They are 11-12 cm long. They are on a winged leaf stalk. The leaflets are hairy on the underside. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. These are 1.5-2.5 cm long on stalks 2-6 cm long. The fruit is a woody curved pod 10-20 cm long.

There are 350 Inga species. The tree is good at fixing nitrogen in the soil. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the SE of Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. It is the layer around the seeds that is eaten.

The fruit are enjoyed.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are taken from a ripe pod and must not be allowed to dry out. They are planted fresh and germinate in a few days. Seedlings can be planted in the field in 5-6 months.

Plants grow at a fast rate. They can be 2.5 m tall in 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Anga, Anga-macaco, Inga-acu-amarelo, Inga-carneiro, Inga-ferradura, Inga-horseshoe, Inga macaco, Inga-peludo, Sessile inga

Synonyms

Feuilleea sessilis (Vell.) Kuntze; Inga calycina Benth.; Mimosa sessilis Vell.;