Ebenopsis ebano (Berland.) Barneby & J.W.Grimes

An evergreen tree. It grows 4.5-9 m high and spreads 6 m wide. The crown is dense and spreading. The trunk can be 1.2 m across. The branches are thin and whip like. They have spines. The leaves are dark green. They have 3-6 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are like wattle and creamy-yellow. They are fragrant. They occur in sprays. The fruit are seed pods. The seed pods are brown and woody and 8-15 cm long by 3-4 cm wide.

It is a subtropical plant. It can tolerate temperatures down to-12°C. Once established plants are drought tolerant. They can grow in acid soils but are best in alkaline soils. It grows in coastal plains up to 1,000 m above sea level in Indonesia. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In XTBG Yunnan.

The seeds are eaten after roasting. They are also boiled and eaten. The seeds are toasted, ground and boiled as a coffee substitute. The green seed pods are cooked and eaten. Caution: If eaten in large quantities it can cause a discharge from the urethra that is not harmful.

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds need to be soaked in warm water for 12-24 hours.