Jengkol, Jiringa
Archidendron jiringa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It can grow to 21 m high. The trunk can be 60 cm across. The branches are round but with ridges down the stem from the leaf scars. The leaf stalk is 2-7 cm long. The leaves are compound with one pair of primary branches and 2 or 3 pairs of leaflets along these. The leaflets are oval and 5.5-20.5 cm long by 2.4-7 cm wide. The flower clusters have 4-7 flowers on one long stalk. They are cream to white with 5 flower parts and both sexes. The fruit is a pod which is dark brown and twisted into a wide spiral or circle. This is about 11 cm across. The pod is deeply lobed between the seeds. The pod is woody and 20-25 cm long by 5 cm across. It opens along the centre. The seeds are dark brown and 3-3.5 cm across. They are 1-1.5 cm thick.

The seeds can contain djenkol acid which is poisonous. There are 90 Archidendron species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest including re-growth. It can grow on sand or clay soils. It occurs from sea level up to 1,000 m altitude or sometimes 1600 m in Java.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The seeds are also eaten raw and as a side dish with hot curry. Sometimes the water is changed. The seeds are boiled or roasted and eaten. They are used as a flavouring for food. The young shoots and pods are also eaten. A relish is made from thinly sliced nuts. They are also boiled or fried and used as a vegetable. It is also pounded flat, sun dried and deep fried. Caution: Excessive consumption of seeds can affect the kidneys.

It is sold in Asian stores bottled in brine. It is a cultivated food plant. It is popular in SE Asia.

Edible parts

Pods - flavouring, shoots, seeds, spice, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

The trees are grown from seed planted in the location where they are to grow. A spacing of 10-15 m is suitable.

It flowers and fruits throughout the year. It takes 40-50 days from flowering to mature fruit. A mature tree produces 1,000-4,000 seeds per year.

Its other names

Local names

Cha niang, Chanieng, Danyin, Dhinyindi, Jaring, Jering, Jing, Jiring, Jringkol, Kanieng, Ngapi nut, Niang, Niang-nok, Nieng, Sa nae sa, Tang-yin, Tanyeng-pen, Tanyin, Tutung, Yawng

Synonyms

Albizia jiringa (Jack) Kurz.; Albizia lucida auct. non (Roxb.) Benth.; Feuillea jiringa (Jack) O Kuntze; Inga bigemina auct. non (L.) Willd.; Inga jiringa Jack ex DC.; Inga kaeringa (Roxb.) Voigt; Mimosa jiringa Jack; Mimosa kaeringa Roxb.; Pithocellobium jiringa (Jack) Prain; Pithocellobium lobatum Benth.; (part) Zygia jiringa (Jack) Kosterman.;