Texas ebony
Ebenopsis ebano

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 4.5-9 m high and spreads 6 m wide. The crown is dense and spreading. The trunk can be 1.2 m across. The branches are thin and whip like. They have spines. The leaves are dark green. They have 3-6 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are like wattle and creamy-yellow. They are fragrant. They occur in sprays. The fruit are seed pods. The seed pods are brown and woody and 8-15 cm long by 3-4 cm wide.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It can tolerate temperatures down to -12°C. Once established plants are drought tolerant. They can grow in acid soils but are best in alkaline soils. It grows in coastal plains up to 1,000 m above sea level in Indonesia. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Central America, China, Indonesia, Mexico, North America (country/location of origin), SE Asia, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten after roasting. They are also boiled and eaten. The seeds are toasted, ground and boiled as a coffee substitute. The green seed pods are cooked and eaten. Caution: If eaten in large quantities it can cause a discharge from the urethra that is not harmful.

Edible parts

Pods, shoots, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds need to be soaked in warm water for 12-24 hours.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Ebano, Ebony ebenopsis, Pohon eboni teksas

Synonyms

Acacia flexicaulis Benth.; Calliandra geniculata Benth.; Chloroleucon ebano (Berland.) L. Rico; Ebenopsis confinis (Standl.) Britton & Rose; Ebenopsis flexicaulis (Benth.) Britton & Rose; Hoopesia arborea Buckley; Mimosa ebano Berland.; Pithecellobium ebano (Berland.) C H. Mull.; Pithecellobium flexicaule (Benth.) J. M. Coult.; Pithecellobium texense J. M. Coult.; Samanea flexicaulis (Benth.) J. F. Macbr.; Siderocarpus flexicaulis (Benth.) Small; Zygia flexicaulis (Benth.) Sudw.;