Noble inga, Wild river whitey
Inga nobilis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5 m tall. The trunk is 10 cm across. The leaves have narrow leaflets in 3 or 4 pairs. The lowest pair are smaller. There are fine red hairs on the veins under the leaflets. The pods are 10-20 cm long. They are light green. The seeds are surrounded by a sweet edible pulp.

There are 350 Inga species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest. It grows on floodplains and up to 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia (country/location of origin), Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru (country/location of origin), Puerto Rico, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Pod pulp, fruit - aril

How it is grown

Plants grow easily from fresh seeds. Seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks given moisture and shade.

The pods ripen during the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Bitasji-weko, Cata pene, Churimito, Churimo, Fotomo del rio, Guabilla, Guama, Guamo, Imiuk sampi, Inga xixica, Kiwana pakay, Kudami, Kunchanmaya wampukash, Muauwa sampi, Paihuaro, Pene, Rerokokasihi, Samik, Sampi, Shimbillo, Wampukish, Wampushik

Synonyms

Inga conglomerata Benoist; Inga corymbifera Benth.; Inga humboldtiana Kunth; Inga mathewsiana Benth.; Inga riedeliana Benth.; Inga riedeliana Benth. var. surinamensis Benth.; Inga sericantha Miq.; Inga speciosissima Pittier; Inga superba Pittier;