Inga barbourii
Standl.
Fabaceae
Inga tenuipedunculata J.León
Common Name:
General Information
Inga barbourii is a tree growing up to 30 metres tall. The bole can be 40cm in diameter[
705- Title
- Studies of Central American Plants Vols. 1 - 7
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.; Steyermark J.A.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Year
- 1944
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Descriptions and notes on a range of plants from Central America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Planted as shade tree for coffee in Costa Rica, and source of timber[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
408- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 53
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1966
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains an excellent treament of a section of the genus Inga. An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet.
,
705- Title
- Studies of Central American Plants Vols. 1 - 7
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.; Steyermark J.A.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Year
- 1944
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Descriptions and notes on a range of plants from Central America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama.
Habitat
Wet rainforests in Costa Rica, growing on slopes on clayey soils at elevations around 900 metres[
408- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 53
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1966
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains an excellent treament of a section of the genus Inga. An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet.
,
705- Title
- Studies of Central American Plants Vols. 1 - 7
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.; Steyermark J.A.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Year
- 1944
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Descriptions and notes on a range of plants from Central America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
This species does not flower regularly each year, and individual trees are sometimes flowerless for several years in a row[
408- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 53
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1966
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains an excellent treament of a section of the genus Inga. An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].
Edible Uses
Although we have no specific information for this species, many members of this genus produce a sweet-tasting edible pulp around the seeds[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. The seedpod is about 5 - 6cm long[
408- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 53
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1966
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains an excellent treament of a section of the genus Inga. An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree is planted to provide shade in coffee plantations in Costa Rica[
].
Inga species generally have a number of factors that make them popular for use as shade trees in coffee and cacao plantations:- they grow quickly and so soon make an effecte shade; they respond well to drastic pruning and so are easy to keep within the required size and shade levels; they promote and maintain soil fertility; they are effective soil stabilizers[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Other Uses
The wood is used for timber[
].
The wood of Inga species is generally attractive, but it has a coarse texture, is susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites and is not durable in the soil[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
When grown as a shade tree, the plant is pruned on a regular basis, and these prunings are often burned as a fuel[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
