Swit'bonki
Inga acrocephala

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 25 m high. The twigs have a few hairs. The leaves are compound. There are usually 4 stalks of leaflets. The leaflets are leathery. The flowers are in spikes in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit is a somewhat curved pod. It is woody and 28 cm long by 4 cm wide and 1 cm thick. They are green and have irregular ribs across them. They are a little swollen over the seeds. There are about 20 seeds. They are pale green. The pulp of the pods is sweet and edible.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest especially on slopes. It also grows in cloud forests. In Mexico it grows from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit pulp, pod pulp

How it is grown

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

Its other names

Local names

Cata pene, Chalahuite, Doho, Guaba de lora chontadura, Guama, Guamilla, Guamo, Irrita, Kala-weko, Majamenekee, Swietiboontje, Temboga fino, Vaina, Warakosa, Witte Bast Switbonki, Ttembonga fino, Ttofi fino, Unjinga fino

Synonyms

Feuilleea acrocephala (Steud.) Kuntze; Inga brevipedicellata Harms;