Edible Plants of the World

Madras thorn

A tropical plant. It is native to C and S America. Common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines. It suits dry coastal areas probably below 800 m altitude. It can grow in low and medium altitudes and in wet and dry areas. It needs light. It can tolerate drought. It can grow on a range of soil types. Well drained soils are best but it can grow in clay soils. In Nepal it grows to about 700 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan.

Also known as:

Ai-terak, Aluwa, Am'pul tuk, Ampil tuk, Asam belanda, Asam koranji, Asam kranji, Asam tjina, Asem londo, Bak kaam lian, Blackbead, Camachile, Chichbilai, Coorkapooly, Damortis, Dekani tentul, Dhekhani babul, Borakh chinch, Guamochil, Guamuchil, Guayamochil, Huamuchil, Jalebi, Jangal jalebi, Jangali jalabi, Jangle jalebi, Jilapi phal, Jilapi phul, Jilepi phal, Jungle jalebi, Kaam lian, Kala-magyi, Kamachile, Kamachili, Kamanchilis, Kamatsile, Karapilly, Karka puli, Karoenga, Kashi helebeli, Kataiya, Keo tay, Khaam th'eed, Khai babla, Kikar, Kodukkaapuli, Konapuli, Korukkapuli, Kottamphuli, Kukafalli, Kway-tanyeng, Kyeng-preng, Kywe-danyin, Madrasthorn, Makham-thet, Manila tamarind, Mchongoma, Me keo, Mhakam-khong, Mkwaju wa kihindi, Monkeypod, Opiuma, Pinzan, Pohon asem londo, Seema chinta, Seemae hunase, Sima chinta, Simachinta, Simakoina, Sweet-inga, Tayok-magyi, Vilayati babul, Vilayati chinch, Vilayati imli

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Madras thorn grow?

Found in: Africa, Andamans, Argentina, Asia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Notes: Also as Mimosaceae.

Status: The pulp is eaten especially by children. It is sold in markets in the Philippines.

Growing Madras thorn

Cultivation: Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings. Seed takes 2 weeks to germinate. Plants can be grown by marcottage, grafting or budding. Pods can be harvested by climbing or using long bamboo poles.

Edible Uses: The fleshy pulp around the seeds in the pods is eaten raw. The roasted seeds are eaten. They are also mixed with curries. The seed oil is eaten. CAUTION It is recorded as causing haematuria.

Production: Plants grow quickly. They can be pruned and cut back to regrow. Seedling trees take 5-8 years to start producing fruit. Pods ripen 2-3 months after flowering. Pods split open at maturity so they need to be eaten within a few days.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Fruit-aril dried 78 3 0.5 25 IU 133 - 7.8

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