Pink flowered Inga
Inga vulpina

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 4-10 m high. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets along the stalk. There are 3-4 pairs of leaflets. The end leaflets are 8-11 cm long and the leaflets near the base are 4-6 cm long. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit are flattened pods. The seeds are in a sweet aril.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the savannas and rocky fields in eastern Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, South America

How it is used for food

The layer around the seeds is eaten fresh.

It is not a very popular fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit

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

Inga-banana, Inga-cabeludo, Inga de flor rosa

Synonyms

Inga ferruginea Planch.; Inga rhoifolia Hort. ex Planch.; Inga superbiens Lam.; Inga guilleminiana Benth.; Feuilleea vulpina (Mart. ex Benth.) Kuntze; Feuilleea guilleminiana (Benth.) Kuntze;