Inga spectabilis - Guaba machete / Guavo real
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Fabaceae
Parts of Central America, northern and western South America.
Rainforests at low to medium elevations. 0-2000 meters above sea level. 10 meters tall.
Ecological value:
This tree take 4-5 years to flower and produces fruits seasonally. Pollinators
include bees, butterflies, other insects. Has a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria that form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen which can be shared with neighboring plants.
Material uses:
Attractive wood, but susceptible to wood-boring insects. Used as fuelwood.
Contains tannins.
Edible uses:
The fibrous fruit of this plant melt in the mouth like cotton candy and is sweet, and is generally eaten fresh. Seeds edible, but less tasty
Medicinal use:
Used to treat inflammation, skin conditions and infections.
Other details:
Known as the Ice Cream Bean. The bean pods are typically 24 inches in length and 3
inches wide. It fruits from July to December. Shade tree for coffee and cocoa. The tree is also used to help grow crops like vanilla and black pepper.
Research:
Aria Shehas/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Inga Spectabilis (Vahl) Willd. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1122303-2.
“Inga Spectabilis - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Inga+spectabilis.
Facciola. S., ‘Cornucopia II’, Kampong Publications, California, 1998
“Inga Spectabilis ‘Machete Ice Cream Bean’ Seeds.” n.d. AT Shipping. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://andersontropicals.com/products/inga-spectabilis-machete-ice-cream-bean-seeds#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20its%20culinary.
Image sources: Filo gèn’ and Wilfredor.