Oersted inga
Inga oerstediana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. The leaves have leaflets in 3 to 5 pairs. The leaf stalk has wings. There are red hairs on the stalk and veins. The fruit are cylinder shaped pods. These are 8-32 cm long.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows well in denuded acidic soils. It grows in rainforest and along rivers. It grows in the humid lowlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The aril or fleshy layer around the seeds is eaten raw.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit - aril, pod pulp

How it is grown

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

Its other names

Local names

Awnatay, Barizo pakay, Cuajinquil peludo, Cushin, Gontokan, Guaba musga, Guabilla, Guama pachona, Guavo, Jaquinicuil, Kontakawe, Laricaro de bejuco, Unjinga fino

Synonyms

Feuilleea endlicheri Kuntze; Feuilleea oerstediana (Benth.) Kuntze; Inga chartana Britton & Killip; Inga chiriquensis Standl.; Inga culagana Britton & Killip; Inga edulis Martius var. minutula Schery; Inga minutula (Schery) T. Elias; Inga pisana G. Don; and others