| Ice-cream-bean | |
|---|---|
| Pod and seeds | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Mimosoideae |
| Tribe: | Ingeae |
| Genus: | Inga |
| Species: | I. edulis |
| Binomial name | |
| Inga edulis Mart. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
see text |
|
Inga edulis (eng. ice-cream-bean, Joaquiniquil, Mex. cuaniquil, guama or guaba) is a fruit native to South America. It is widely grown, especially by indigenous Amazonians, for shade, food, timber, medicine, and production of the alcoholic beverage cachiri. It is popular in Peru and Colombia.[1]
This plant has a convoluted history of synonymy with Inga vera. The plants discussed under that name by Brenan and Kunth are actually I. edulis, whereas that based on the writings of Carl Ludwig Willdenow refers to the actual I. vera. Inga edulis in works referring back to authorities other than von Martius usually refers to Inga feuilleei.[2]
Synonyms of Inga edulis Mart.: