Pithecellobium dulce

Botanical Name: Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.

Family: Fabaceae

Common Name: Kodakapuli; Manila Tamarind

English Name: Blackbead, Monkeypod.

Description: It is a tree that reaches a height of about 10 to 15 m (33 to 49 ft). Its trunk is spiny and its leaves are bipinnate. Each pinna has a single pair of ovate-oblong leaflets that are about 2 to 4 cm (0.79 to 1.57 in) long. The flowers are greenish-white, fragrant, sessile and reach about 12 cm (4.7 in) in length, though appear shorter due to coiling. Leaves bi-pinnate, alternate, stipular spines to 2cm erect rachis 1-3cm long slender pubescent grooved above pulvinate a solitary gland at te top on upper side pinnae 2.14-10mm long slender pubescent grooved above a solitary gland at the top on upperside. Leaflets 2 opposite stipels 1mm linear petiolute to 1mm lamina 1.5-3.5 x 0.5-1.5cm oblong oblanceolate inequilaferal base and apex obtuse margin entire glabrous chartaceous lateral nerves 5-7 pairs pinnate slender faint intercostae reticulate, obscure flowers bisexual 5mm across creamy, heads arranged in axillary or terminal panicled spikes peduncle to 2cm calyx campanulate pubscent 10bes 5 patals 5 to 4mm conate in the middle densely tomenlose witout stamens many, monadelphous filaments to 7mm ovary superior sessile ovules many stigma minute fruit a pod 8x1cm curcubate ir fakcate, moniliform furgid, dehiscent seeds orbicular aril white.

Flowering & Fruiting: November-March

Distribution: Native of tropical America cultivated in the tropics. S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean.

IUCN: Stable: Least Concern. Pithecellobium dulce (iucnredlist.org)

District: All District

Uses: The pods contain a sweet, pulpy flesh that surrounds the seed. This flesh can be eaten raw, boiled or made into a refreshing beverage that is suggestive of lemonade. The leaves can be used as a plaster to allay pain even from venereal sores, and can relieve convulsions. The bark of the root is a good remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery. The bark is used medicinally as a febrifuge. The fruit pulp is taken orally to stop blood flow in case of haemoptysis.


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