Common Name: Nitta Tree

General Information

Parkia speciosa is an evergreen tree that grows 15 - 40 metres or more tall. The bole can be 50 - 100cm in diameter[]. Buttresses are sometimes present and can be 150cm tall[].
An important multi-purpose tree, it has a long history of cultivation as a food crop by local peoples[, ], it is also commonly harvested from the wild and its produce is sold in local markets[, ]. There are some named varieties[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Malaysia, Indo-China.

Habitat

An emergent tree in undisturbed lowland rainforests and sometimes also in tall secondary forest, on sandy, loamy and podzolic soils, also in waterlogged locations, in freshwater swamp forest and on riverbanks[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Bats
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland humid tropics at an elevation below 1,400 metres[]. It grows best in areas with a mean minimum and maximum temperature within the range 20 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 800 - 2,500mm[, ].
Young plants require some shade from bright sunlight[], but they become more light-demanding as they grow larger[]. Prefers well drained loamy or clay-loam soils, but is also found in waterlogged soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, but tolerates 5 - 7.5[].
Trees commence flowering when about 15 metres tall[].
Trees can take up to 7 years from seed until they begin to crop[].
Trees propagated by cuttings bloom and set fruit after only a few years[].
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

Seed - raw or cooked[]. Eaten avidly, but in small quantities by local people[]. The seeds have a rather strong, garlic-like flavour and odour that lingers for hours[, ]. Eaten from the hand, boiled, roasted, or added to soups[]. The dried seeds are peeled and fried in oil[]. Due to the foul smell of the green seeds, they are sometimes referred to as the 'evil-smelling bean'[]. The seed has a high nutritional value[]. The seeds are contained in large pods 35 - 55cm long and 3 - 5cm wide, each pod containing 10 - 18 large seeds[]..

The light yellow, pear-shaped receptacles of the inflorescence are cut in slices and eaten raw[, ].

Young, tender seedpods are sliced and eaten with stir-fried vegetable dishes[]. The seedpods are up to 50cm long[].

Young leaves - raw[, , ].

Medicinal

The seeds are known to be hypoglycaemic and are used traditionally for treating kidney pain, cancer, diabetes, hepatalgia, oedema, nephritis, colic, cholera and as an anthelmintic[]. The seeds are also valued as a carminative[].
The seeds are applied externally to wounds and ulcers[].

The inner red bark is applied as a dressing on burns, followed several hours later by an infusion of the pounded white wood, which is used to wash the skin[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is sometimes planted to provide shade tree for coffee plantations, nurseries etc[].

Other Uses

The wood is used for pulp in the manufacture of paper[].

Wood is non-durable with a service life of about 1 year, but preservative treatment is easy[]. It has an unpleasant garlic or beanlike odour when fresh. Shrinkage upon seasoning is low. The wood is used locally for temporary light construction, carpentry, furniture and cabinet making, mouldings, interior finish, cladding, concrete shuttering, boxes and crates, matches, clogs, disposable chopsticks and fishnet floats[]. General utility plywood has been manufactured from the wood[].

Propagation

Seed - needs to be sown as soon as possible because it has a short viability[]. Fresh, soft seeds can be sown immediately, pre-soak any with harder skins for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing. The seed is often sown in situ, with about 90% germinating within 3 - 15 days[].
Cuttings of ripe wood
Budding

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