Edible Plants of the World

South American locust

South American locust

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical America. In Costa Rica it grows to 800 m altitude. In Bolivia they grow up to 1200 m altitude. It grows in lowland dry forest in the Amazon in Brazil. It can grow on poor and sandy soils. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa.

Also known as:

Algarroba, Amami-gum, Begki, Brazilian copal, Buranda, Corama, Courbaril, Cura pisi, Farinheira, Guapinol, Imbuiva, Itaiba, Jatai-amarelo, Jatai-peba, Jatai-vermelho, Jatai, Jataiba, Jatoba-da-catinga, Jatoba-miudo, Jatoba-mirim, Jatoba-preto, Jatoba, Jitai, Kahawanaru arau, Kaurubali, Kawanari, Moire, Motx tere, Not, Paq, Paquio, Pohon kopal Brasil, Pohon jatiba karet, Simiri, Stinking toe, Tongchi, West Indian Locust Tree, Yata-i-bane

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does South American locust grow?

Found in: Africa, Amazon, Antilles, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Hispaniola, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Mozambique, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, West Indies, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 16 Hymenaea species. They grow in the tropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Status: The pods are sold in markets. The pulp of the fruit is often eaten by children. It is a cultivated plant.

Growing South American locust

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and left in the sun to make them fully ripe and therefore easier to remove the seeds. Seeds can only be stored for 4 months. Seeds germinate in 12-18 days. The seeds can be made to germinate by scraping the seed coat or by dropping them in hot water then putting them quickly into cold water. Seedlings can be transplanted in about 6 months.

Edible Uses: The pulp of the pod is eaten. It is also added to water and can be fermented into an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The flour from the pod is eaten. It is also made into porridge. The bark is used to produce a drink.

Production: It is slow growing. In South America it flowers between March to May and fruits by August to October. Trees often fruit every second year. A tree can produce up to 2,000 fruit.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Seed 309 5.9 3.2 - 11 - 14.6
Flour 115 - - - 33 -
Flour 248 5.7 0 - 83.1 18 11.2

South American locust Photos

South American locust South American locust South American locust

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