Umari
Geoffroea spinosa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 6-12 m tall. The branches are horizontal and the crown is tall. The trunk is upright and has channels along it. It is 30-50 cm across. The leaves are alternate and compound. They are 3-6.5 cm long. There are 7-9 leaflets that are opposite. The leaflets are 1-2.5 cm long by 0.6-0.9 cm wide. The flowers are in groups 8-9 cm long in the axils of leaves. The flowers are yellow and scented. The fruit is a fleshy pod with one seed. It has thick sweet pulp.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,500 m above sea level. It grows in northeast Brazil in flooded lowlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, South America (country/location of origin), Venezuela

How it is used for food

The unripe fruit are boiled in water. The ripe fruit are cooked in the fire or in the ashes. The fruit are boiled and the kernels are like beans.

It is eaten as a famine food when other food is scarce.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

The ripe fruit are harvested and put in plastic bags for a few days to soften the flesh and make it easier to remove the seed. Fresh seed should be planted and they germinate in 3-6 weeks.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Almendon, Almendora, Arvore-que-chora, Awaira, Inanja, Jigua, Madera seca, Manduvi-ra, Mani, Mano de Indio, Mari, Mariuri, Marizeiro, Maru, Mau, Mogote, Mokwa naxima, Nookiki, Pepa de vaca, Seca, Umari, Umau

Synonyms

Geoffroea bredemeyeri Kunth; Geoffroea striata (Willd.) Macbr.; Geoffroea striata (Willd.) Morong; Geoffroea superba Humb. & Bonpl.; Robinia striata Willd.;