Jerusalem thorn
Parkinsonia aculeata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-4 m tall but can be 10 m tall. It can have one or several stems. The bark is smooth and green. The smooth branches are zigzagged. It is spiny and has drooping branches. The spines are at the base of each leaf. The leaves are long and thin. They are compound with unusual leaflets. They are small and widely spaced along the flattened leaf stalk. There is a spine at the end. The flowers are yellow and have one red-brown petal. They have a scent. The fruit are straight pods 10 cm long. These are constricted between the seeds. The pods turn brown when ripe. The seeds are oblong and dark brown.

There are (2-3) 12-29 Parkinsonia species. The thorns make it a weed problem. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It is native from Mexico to Honduras. It grows in warm subtropical and tropical places. It suits semi-arid places. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 200-1,000 mm per year. It grows along drainage lines and on flood plains. It grows in dry lowland grassland and coastal regions. It grows in the Sahel. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level. It can grow in alkaline and salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Antilles, Asia, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil (country/location of origin), Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Galapagos, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesser Antilles, Libya, Marquesas, Martinique, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA (country/location of origin), Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The immature seeds are eaten raw. Ripe seeds are roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute. The seeds are also parched, sun dried and cooked and eaten. The fruit pulp is sweet and edible.

The seeds are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Seeds - coffee, seeds, flowers, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds can be put in boiling water then allowed to cool down before planting. Seed can spread in flood waters. The seed are best sown fresh. Seedlings can be transplanted after 6-10 weeks. Plants can also be grown from root or stem cuttings and air-layering. Plants can be used to form hedges. They can be cut back and will re-grow.

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Adanti, Balati kikar, Barbados flower fence, Cemaraan, Cina cina, Espinillo, Garabato, Geed walaayo, Kim tuoc chi, Kunto-barbariae, Mexican palo verde, Muk-bee, Mya-sein, Myinsa-goni, Okwato, Palo verde, Pardeshi baval, Parkinsonia, Ram baval, Ratamah, Ratta-maa, Retamo rojo, Retma, Shauk al-bahr, Sima tumma, Vilayati babul, Vilayati kikar

Synonyms

Parkinsonia inermis Spreng.; Parkinsonia thornberi M. E. Jones; Cercidium