Manila Tamarind or Madras Thorn

Pithecellobium dulce

Name

Marathi: विलायती चिंच

Biological Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Spermatophyta
Sub-Division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Sub-Class: Polypetalae
Series: Calyciflorae
Order: Rosales
Family: Leguminosae
Sub-Family: Mimosaceae
Genus: Pithecellobium
Species: dulce

Advantages

  • It helps in soil nitrogen fixation being a leguminous plant.
  • It is cultivated everywhere for its sweet, red and pulpy aril.

Interesting Facts

  • The Genus name comes from the word "Pithekos", which means "Monkey" in Latin, and "cellobium" means earrings, which refers to shape of fruits.
  • The specific name "dulce" refers to sweet, edible fruits.

Description

  • It is a small tree armed with thorns.
  • The leaves are bipinnate and stipules are modified into spines.
  • It bears white flowers from January to March.
  • Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.