Madras thorn fruit
Pithecellobium dulce

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 10 m tall but can be 15-25 m tall. The trunk can be 50-60 cm across. There are many branches. The branches are spiny. These are in pairs and are 4-10 mm long. The young leaves are usually reddish. The leaves are twice compound with four leaflets. There is a small spine between the leaflets. The flowers are greenish white in rounded dense heads about 1 cm across. The pods are often twisted spirally. They are 10 to 18 cm long and red when ripe. They are about 1 cm wide and contain 6 to 8 black shiny seeds surrounded by a white to red fleshy aril or pulp. The seeds are flattened and 9 mm long by 7 mm wide and 2 mm thick.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to C and S America. Common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines. It suits dry coastal areas probably below 800 m altitude. It can grow in low and medium altitudes and in wet and dry areas. It needs light. It can tolerate drought. It can grow on a range of soil types. Well drained soils are best but it can grow in clay soils. In Nepal it grows to about 700 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andaman Is., Andes, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fleshy pulp around the seeds in the pods is eaten raw. The roasted seeds are eaten. They are also mixed with curries. The seed oil is eaten. CAUTION It is recorded as causing haematuria.

The pulp is eaten especially by children. It is sold in markets in the Philippines. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, aril, pods, seeds, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings. Seed takes 2 weeks to germinate. Plants can be grown by marcottage, grafting or budding. Pods can be harvested by climbing or using long bamboo poles.

Plants grow quickly. They can be pruned and cut back to regrow. Seedling trees take 5-8 years to start producing fruit. Pods ripen 2-3 months after flowering. Pods split open at maturity so they need to be eaten within a few days.

Its other names

Local names

Ai-terak, Aluwa, Am'pul tuk, Ampil tuk, Asam belanda, Asam koranji, Asam kranji, Asam tjina, Asem londo, Bak kaam lian, Blackbead, Camachile, Chichbilai, Coorkapooly, Cuamuchil, Damortis, Dekani tentul, Dhekhani babul, Borakh chinch, Ghaf al-bahr, Guamochil, Guamuchil, Guayamochil, Huamuchil, Jalebi, Jangal jalebi, Jangali jalabi, Jangle jalebi, Jilapi phal, Jilapi phul, Jilepi phal, Jungle jalebi, Kaam lian, Kala-magyi, Kamachile, Kamachili, Kamanchilis, Kamatsile, Karapilly, Karka puli, Karoenga, Kashi helebeli, Kataiya, Keo tay, Khaam th'eed, Khai babla, Kikar, Kodukkaapuli, Konapuli, Korukkapuli, Kottamphuli, Kukafalli, Kway-tanyeng, Kyeng-preng, Kywe-danyin, Madrasthorn, Makham-thet, Manila tamarind, Mchongoma, Me keo, Mhakam-khong, Mkwaju wa kihindi, Monkeypod, Opiuma, Payande bobo, Pinzan, Pohon asem londo, Seema chinta, Seemae hunase, Sima chinta, Simachinta, Simakoina, Sweet-inga, Tayok-magyi, Tierra espina, Vilayati babul, Vilayati chinch, Vilayati imli, Yacure

Synonyms

Acacia dulcis Roxb.; Acacia obliquifolia M. Martens & Galeotti; Albizzia dulcis (Roxb.) F. Muell.; Feuilleea dulcis (Roxb.) Kuntze; Inga dulcis (Roxb.) Willd.; Inga javana DC.; Inga leucantha Presl.; Inga pungens Willd.; Mimosa dulcis Roxb.; Mimosa pungens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Poir.; Pithecolobium bertoloni Benth.; Pithecellobium littorale Rec.; and others