Kalava
Ormocarpum cochinchinense

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small leguminous shrub or tree up to 7.5 m tall with light brown bark which strips off showing a greener bark underneath. The leafy shoots are hairy. When the plant flowers it has a flower like a bean and a pale yellowish green in colour with reddish veins. It produces a pod which is up to 9 cm long and jointed in a chain of 2 to 8 seeds. The seeds are small 5 mm and bean shaped. Flowers and pods are rare. It is a legume.

There are 20 Ormocarpum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along the beach and in mud flats. It also comes up in old gardens. It mostly occurs naturally below about 30 m altitude. It is planted in gardens up to 500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Torres Strait, Yap

How it is used for food

The young leaf tips are used cooked as a vegetable.

In Papua New Guinea, it is mostly grown and used in the Gulf Province and along the South Coast or by people from there. It is grown in the Gazelle Peninsula.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

In gardening situations it is normally grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Kat, Kumbong, Waubuk, Webon, Wombiakat

Synonyms

Diphaca cochinchinense Lour.; Ormocarpum orientale (Spreng.) Merr.; Ormocarpum sennoides sensu A. Gray non D.C.; Parkinsonia orientalis Spreng.; and others