Characteristics
A tree. It grows 5 m tall. The branches spread out wide. There are spines along the trunk. The leaves have 3 leaflets. These are oval and 7-22 cm long. The leaves fall off during dry winter seasons. The flower petals are red. The fruit are pods 12 cm long. These are squeezed in between the seeds. The pod has a long narrow beak at the tip. The seeds are about 1 cm long and are red.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
deciduous
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
entomogamy
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
5.0 - 6.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
|
| Blooming months |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | | Apr | May | Jun | | Jul | Aug | Sep | | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
rhizobia
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
Thorn forest, probably on limestone.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The petals and young flowers are fried and eaten. They are added to eggs to make an omelet. They are also added to salads and soups. The tender leaves are used as greens. Caution: The seeds are poisonous.
Cultivation
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
| Mode |
cuttings
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
10 - 15
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
21 - 23
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
soaking
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-7
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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