Pithecellobium dulce

• Botanical Name : Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Bth.
• Synonyms : Inga dulcis (Roxb.) Willd.
• Common Name : Manilla Tamarind, Madras Thorn, Sweet Tamarind, Vilayati Ambli
• Plant Family : Mimosaceae
• Plant Form : Tree
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 9, 22, 24, 27, 30

About Pithecellobium dulce Plant :

• Habit : A small, armed tree.
• Leaves : Bipinnate, stipules modified into spines. Leaflets 2, oblique obovate-oblong, obtuse.
• Inflorescence : Terminal racemose panicles.
• Flowers :
  • White, sessile, in small heads.
  • Calyx small, 5-tooth.
  • Corolla tubular, valvate, stigma capitate.
  • Stamens monadelphous.
• Fruits : Pods fleshy, twisted, seeds thick, flat and covered with white or red when ripe, firm sweet edible pulp or aril.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : January - March
• Significance : Cultivated everywhere for its sweet, red, pulpy aril.