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Useful Tropical Plants

Inga acrocephala

Steud.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Inga acrocephala is a tree with a dense, globoid crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 120cm in diameter and unbranched for up to 22 metres[
704
Title
Illustrated Booklet of 25 Forest Species of Putumayo, Colombia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
USAID/Colombia.
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF Document released on the Internet, giving good descriptions and brief notes on the uses of 25 tree species from Colombia.
].
The edible pods are harvested from the wild for local use. The tree also yields a colouring matter and a useful timber. It is sometimes planted as a shade tree in coffee plantations[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.

Range

S. America - Brazil, Colombia, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico.

Habitat

Rain forests, especially on slopes[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height25.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details


Prefers a position in partial shade[
704
Title
Illustrated Booklet of 25 Forest Species of Putumayo, Colombia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
USAID/Colombia.
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF Document released on the Internet, giving good descriptions and brief notes on the uses of 25 tree species from Colombia.
]. Grows in the wild in clayey soils[
704
Title
Illustrated Booklet of 25 Forest Species of Putumayo, Colombia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
USAID/Colombia.
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF Document released on the Internet, giving good descriptions and brief notes on the uses of 25 tree species from Colombia.
].
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[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
,
704
Title
Illustrated Booklet of 25 Forest Species of Putumayo, Colombia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
USAID/Colombia.
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF Document released on the Internet, giving good descriptions and brief notes on the uses of 25 tree species from Colombia.
]. The flesh surrounding the seeds is sweet and very tasty[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. The somewhat curved seedpod is up to 28cm long and 4cm wide, containing about 20 seeds[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is grown to provide shade in coffee plantations in Mexico[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].
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

A blood-red resin exudes slowly from damage in the stems. It is used as a dye[
704
Title
Illustrated Booklet of 25 Forest Species of Putumayo, Colombia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
USAID/Colombia.
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF Document released on the Internet, giving good descriptions and brief notes on the uses of 25 tree species from Colombia.
].

The wood is of fine quality. It is used for construction[
704
Title
Illustrated Booklet of 25 Forest Species of Putumayo, Colombia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
USAID/Colombia.
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
A PDF Document released on the Internet, giving good descriptions and brief notes on the uses of 25 tree species from Colombia.
].
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 -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Inga+acrocephala>

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