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Inga insignis - Kunth

Common Name Guaba de zorro
Family Fabaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Inga insignis Guaba de zorro


Ana Mireya Guerrero G.
Inga insignis Guaba de zorro
Ana Mireya Guerrero G.

 

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Summary

Inga insignis or Guaba de Zorro is a tropical tree growing up to 10 m in height and can be found in South America. It has compound leaves that are reddish-green in color when young and turn brownish when old. The flowers are green or yellow. The fruits are green pods covered with white hairs. The trunk is cylindrical, reaching a diameter of up to 35 cmm and usually branching near the base. The fruit is edible, with a sweet-tasting white pulp surrounding the seeds. The tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria and capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Inga insignis is a TREE growing to 8 m (26ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Feuilleea insignis (Kunth) Kuntze

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[317 ]. The sweet-tasting white pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten[305 ]. The seedpod is 14 - 18cm long and up to 2.5cm wide[305 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A tropical plant. It can grow on poor soils. It can tolerate long dry seasons. In Ecuador it grows between 1,450-2,850 m above sea level. 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.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Guaba de zorro

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Loreto,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Kunth

Botanical References

1

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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