Sapnit tree
Caesalpinia latisiliqua

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A woody creeper or small tree. It can grow to 20 m high. There can be a few prickles. The leaf stalk is 20-40 cm long and there are 4-8 pairs of leaflet stalks 7-13 cm long. The leaflets are almost opposite and there are 6-8 pairs of small leaflets. The flowering shoot is 30-100 cm long and in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers can be hairy or smooth. The fruit are pods 10-16 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. There is a wing on the top side. The seeds are oval and 9-12 mm long by 6-7 mm wide. They are a dull brown.

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on rocks on sunny dry slopes. It grows along riverbanks and in forests between 100-1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten as a salad.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It can be grown by seed, air-layering or grafting.

Its other names

Local names

Keo rung, Pohon kemerakan sapnit, Vau-dieu

Synonyms

Bauhinia latisiliqua Cav.; Caesalpinia torquata Blanco; Mezoneuron balansae Gagnep.; Mezoneuron cadadbarense Elmer; Mezoneuron keo Gagnep.; Mezoneuron latisiliquum (Cav.) Merr.; Mezoneuron oxyphyllum Gagnep.; Mezoneuron platycarpum Merr.; Mezoneuron rubrum Merr.; Mezoneuron procumbens Blanco;