Inga acrocephala
Steud.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
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[
].
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 |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 25.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, 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[
].
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 -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
