Oil bean tree
Pentaclethra macroloba

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 40 m tall. The trunk can be 1.3 m across. The bark is smooth and grey-brown. The leaves are twice divided. They are 30 cm long. There are many small leaflets along the stalk. The flowers are small and crowded in groups 15-20 cm long. The fruit is a pod that splits open. It is 20-50 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. There are 3-8 seeds in each pod.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 600 m above sea level. It needs an average annual temperature of 20-35°C. It needs a rainfall above 2,500 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Trees in good locations can start to flower at 2 years old.

Its other names

Local names

Gavilan, Koeroebaharo, Koloballi, Pracaxi, Trysil

Synonyms

Acacia aspidioides G. Meyer; Acacia macroloba Willd.; Cailliea macrostachya Steudel; Entada werbaena Presl.; Mimosa macroloba (Willd.) Poiret; Pentaclethra brevifila Benth.; Pentaclethra filamentosa Benth.;