''Inga'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of small tropical, tough-leaved,

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treesElkan, Daniel. "Slash-and-burn farming has become a major threat to the world's rainforest" ''

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'' 21 April 2004 and shrubs, subfamily Mimosoideae. ''Inga''s leaves are pinnate, and flowers are generally white. Many of the hundreds of

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

are used ornamentally. Several related plants have been placed into this genus at one time, for example Yopo (Cohoba, Mopo, Nopo or Parica – '' Anadenanthera peregrina'' – as ''Inga niopo''). The seeds are covered with sweet white powder. The pulp covering the seeds is lightly fibrous and sweet, and rich in minerals; it is edible in the raw state. The tree's name originates from the Tupi word ''in-gá'' meaning "soaked", due to the fruit powder consistency. The tree usually blooms twice a year. Within the ''Inga'' genus there are around 300 species, most of them native and growing in the Amazon forest region although some species are also found in Mexico, Greater and

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and other countries in

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, being an exclusively neotropical genus. The trees are usually found by river and lake edges because their seeds are carried there by floods. Inga-species

All ''Inga'' species produce their seeds in "bean-like" pods and some can reach up to 1 m long, in general the pods are 10–30 cm long. Trees can reach up to 15 metres and they are widely used for producing shade over coffee plants. The plant benefits from well drained soil. The flowers are white with some green and the tree can produce fruits almost all year long. ''Inga'' species, most notably '' Inga edulis'' (commonly known as "ice-cream-bean" or, in Spanish, ''guama'', ''guaba'', ''guaba de bejuco'' or ''paterna'' depending on the country or region) often have edible pulp. The name derives from the fact that those of ''I. edulis'' resembles vanilla ice cream in flavour. In Ecuador, ''Inga edulis'' is known as ''guaba de bejuco'' and, the other popular species there, '' Inga spectabilis'' , as ''guaba de machete''.

Use in agroforestry

Alley cropping techniques using species of ''Inga'' have been developed to restore soil fertility, and thereby stem the tide of continual slashing and burning of the rainforest. Species which have proven effective for alley cropping include '' Inga edulis'' and '' Inga oerstediana''. Much of the research was done by Mike Hands at Cambridge University over a 20-year period. ''Inga'' species are also commonly used as shade trees for

coffee Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially a ...

, cocoa, and tea.

Other uses

It is often used as lumber in construction and furniture making.

References

External links

* * * ''I. Edulis'' at FACT Ne
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Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q290354 Fabaceae genera Taxa named by Philip Miller Flora of the Neotropical realm

Use in agroforestry

Other uses

See also

References

External links