Xylia xylocarpa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 30 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The trunk is straight. The branches are slender and drooping. The bark is red brown and thin. The leaves are twice divided with a single pair of side stalks 10-30 cm long. There are 3-7 pairs of opposite leaflets. These are 4-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide and the top ones are the largest. Young shoots have yellow hairs. Young leaves are pink. The flowers are pale yellow in dense round heads. These are 2 cm across. The fruit is 10-15 cm long by 5-6 cm thick. It is woody and slightly curved. It splits into 2 parts that curve backwards. There are 6-10 flat, dark seeds.

There are 13 Xylia species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows up to 850 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of 1,200 to 1,700 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aravitakku, Aruvapalam, Bak deeng, Betadavarike, Boja, Bojeh, Camxe, Dhamani, Dhamoni, Eravalu, Errachennamangi, Hommavarika, Hpat, Irul, Irumulla, Iruvel, Itul, Jamba, Jambe, Jambu, Kadhai, Kanakakuli, Kondatangeedu, Kongora, Maak deeng, Mai deen, Mai-salan, Pkhay, Pran, Prway, Pyin, Pyinkado, Scimsapa, Shilpe, Sivve, Sokrom, Suria, Surya, Takku, Tangini, Tirawa, Yerrul

Synonyms

Acacia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Willd.; Inga xylocarpa (Roxb.) DC.; Mimosa xylocarpa Roxb.; Xylia dolabriformis Benth.;