A deciduous tree, featuring wide-spreading crowns, fern-like feathery bipinnate leaves and unique club-shaped or tannis-ball-like hanging flower heads that produce edible flat pods and nutrient-rich seeds.
Tree bean/
Parkia speciosa
Local / Vernacular name: Yongchak
Key Facts
About this Tree
Habits: Large deciduous tree, 7-20 m tall (sometimes up to 30 m).
Leaves: Bipinnate with numerous small leaflets.
Inflrorescence: Dense, spherical or club shaped head borne on long peduncle.
Pollination: Primarily by bats and nocturnal insects.
Fruits: Long, woody, twisted pods (20-45cm) containing sweet yellow pulp and 20-30 seeds.
Seeds: Flattened, protein-rich, used for food and fermentation.
Nitrogen fixation: Improves soil fertility, supports agroforestry systems.
Agroforestry role: Enchances biodiversity, stabilizes ecosystem and support small holder farmers.
Effective against bacteria causing diarrhea and infections.
Helps regulate blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides.
Rich in saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides which contribute to therapeutics effects.
Used as a delicacy.
The mature seeds are remove to make pickle.
Provides income when being sold in the market.
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Related Trees
Other trees in the Fabaceae on campus