Lunate machaerium
Machaerium lunatum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can be climbing. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 15 m long. The stems are cylinder shaped and 12 cm across. There are curved spines. The leaves are compound with 5-7 leaflets along the stalk. They are alternate. The leaflets are 2-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves or at the ends of the branches. The flowering shoots are 5-15 cm long. The pod is 2-4 cm wide. It is curved and has one kidney shaped seed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along river banks and on the edges of mangroves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hispaniola, Ivory Coast, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Amga, Amourett, Arepillo, Aripillo, Atoelia, Aturia, Bampele, Bodorie, Boransao, Borassam-o, Brahaca, Brantimaka, Bucachina, Bucacina, Buchachina, Cortica, Ecote, Escambron, Fuindi, Palo de hoz, Mancanta, N'antanto, N'fene, Tangani, Turia, Um-hanta-no

Synonyms

Drepanocarpus africanus G. Don; Drepanocarpus lunatus (L.f.) G.F.W.Meyer; Pterocarpus aptera Gaertner; Pterocarpus lunatus L. f.;