Ironwood
Dialium guianense

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 15-30 m high. The crown is a pyramid shape. It has large prop roots. The trunk is upright and 50-90 cm across. The bark is thin and scaly. The leaves are compound. There are 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are small and green. They are in groups at the ends of branches. The fruit is a fleshy pod. It has only one hard seed. The white aril or layer around the seeds is edible.

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in Brazil in the Amazon. It grows in rainforest and in mountain savanna forest on granite. In Central America it grows between 50-600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The aril or fleshy layer around the seed is eaten dried or soaked in water.

Fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Aril, fruit

How it is grown

The plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seeds removed. Fresh seed are planted. They germinate in 15-20 days. Seedlings are transplanted into the field when 30-40 cm high.

Its other names

Local names

Alfenique, Azedinha, Beijo-de-coco, Beju-de-coco, Caya, Comenegro, Cuachil, Cururu, Dekademo, Deninho, Dikademo, Durinho, Guach, Guapaque, Guapiqui, Ipu, Jatahy-peba, Jataizinho, Jitai-jatai, Jitai-mirim, Jitai-preto, Jitai, Jutai-peba, Jutai-poca, Jutai-pororoca, Jutai, Jutairama, Kerandji, Kwataloka, Menemo, Oyo ya'so, Palo de sangre, Paqui, Parajuba, Pikin-loka, Quebra-machado, Roxinho, Tamarina, Tamarandillo, Tamarindo, Tamarindo silvestre

Synonyms

Arouna guianensis Aubl.; Dialium divaricatum Vahl.; and others