Tree Bean is a very large tree, 25-40 m in height, found in North-East
India. The leaves are evenly
bipinnate and 30-80 cm long. The pinnae are 40-60 in number, and 8-20 cm
long. The leaflets are 60-140, linear-oblong, 6-12 mm long, close-set,
shining above, and pointed at the tip. The flower-heads are dense, obovoid
or perform, up to 6 cm long, hanging from leaf axils like old-fashioned
electric bulbs, on long cable-like stalks. The flowers are white and
yellow, about 1 cm long. The pods are 25-30 cm long, about 3.5 cm wide,
rather thick, pendulous, and black and shinning when mature, and contain
from 15-20 seeds. The pods are edible, and are considered a delicacy in
Manipur. Their pulp is golden yellow, with a sweetish taste and an odor
like that of violets. The roasted seeds are used in certain parts of Africa
to make an infusion like coffee, for which reason they have been called
soudan Coffee.
Medicinal uses: Pods are used in bleeding piles. Bark extract is
given in diarrhoea and dysentery. Bark and leaves are employed for making
lotion applied to sores and skin affections.
Identification credit: Thingnam Sophia
Photographed in Manipur.
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The flower labeled Tree Bean is ...