Keredas
Archidendron microcarpum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows up to 15 m high and has a straight trunk. It can reach 10 m before the first branches. The trunk can be 20 cm across. There can be buttresses. The small branches are round and densely hairy. The leaf axis is 1-17 cm long and divided into a compound leaf. There are 1-3 pairs of first leaf divisions which are 15 cm long and then 1-4 pairs of leaflets 5-15 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. They are unequal in shape and oval. The flower cluster is at the ends of branches and is hairy. They are in flower heads 30 cm long by 60 cm across. The flowers have 5 flower parts and are of both sexes. The fruit are pods and two kinds of pods occur. In the outer part of the arrangement the pods are sterile, red and distorted. Fertile pods are in the centre. These are reddish-orange and curved into a circle 2-3 cm across. The seeds are black with a bluish bloom. They are 7-8 mm long by 6 mm across.

There are 90 Archidendron species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Trees grown in light secondary rainforest. Often they are in sandy soil and swampy conditions. They grow from sea level to 500 m altitude but occasionally up to 1,200 m.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The strong smelling pods used for seasoning food in Malaysia. The pods are also put in chutneys.

Edible parts

Pods - flavouring, spice

How it is grown

Plants flower and fruit all year round.

Its other names

Local names

Jiring tupai, Kayum, Keredas api, Keredas ayam, Keredas padi, Petai belalang, Saga

Synonyms

Abarema microcarpa (Benth.) I.C.Nielsen; Inga bubalina auct. non (Jack) Wall.; Pithecellobium elmeri Ridley; Pithecellobium oppositum auct non (Miq.) Miq.; Pithecellobium microcarpum Benth.; Pithecellobium motleyanum auct. (non Benth.);