Icecream bean (Inga ingoides, Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4: 1012 (1806))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: (Rich.) Willd.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4: 1012 (1806)

Year: 1806

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Inga

Vegetable: False

Observations: Lesser Antilles to S. Trop. America

Description

The Icecream Bean, scientifically known as Inga ingoides, is a captivating member of the Fabaceae family. Renowned for its intriguingly sweet, pulp-filled pods, this plant holds a significant place in the flora of the Lesser Antilles extending to Southern Tropical America. Herbarium records, traced back to the early 19th century, notably William Willdenow’s documentation in 1806, underscore its historical and botanical interest.

This tree is often revered not just for its delectably sweet fruit, reminiscent of vanilla ice cream, but also for its robust ecological roles. The Icecream Bean tree thrives in tropical climates, where it contributes to soil fertility through its nitrogen-fixing roots, making it a boon for intercropping in agroforestry systems. The luxuriant foliage provides ample shade, making it a sheltering presence in tropical ecosystems. Additionally, the flowers attract a medley of pollinators, including bees, which are instrumental for the surrounding biodiversity.

Native communities have long valued the Icecream Bean tree, leveraging its edible pods as a sweet treat, its timber for construction, and its leaves for various local applications. This tree’s alluring attributes make it not only a botanical curiosity but a multifaceted resource for those living within its native range.

In essence, the Icecream Bean or Inga ingoides stands as a testament to nature’s diversity and bounty, offering both nutritional and ecological benefits. Its historical acknowledgment by botanists and continued relevance in tropical ecosystems today highlights the plant’s enduring importance.

Common Names

Eng: icecream bean, spanish ash
Por: ingá, ingá-cipó, rabo-de-mico, ingá cipo, rabo de mico
Spa: coto chupa, guamo blanco, guamo rabo de mono, guavilla, pacae, pacay cola de marrón
En: Icecream bean, Spanish Ash
Pt: Ingá cipó, Ingá, Rabo de mico, Ingá-cipó, Rabo-de-mico, Ingá Cipo
Es: Coto Chupa, Guamo Blanco, Guamo Rabo de Mono, Guavilla, Pacae, Pacay Cola de Marrón

Synonyms

• Feuilleea ingoides ((Rich.) Kuntze)
• Feuilleea sesuya (Kuntze)
• Mimosa ingoides (Rich.)
• Inga galibica (Duchass. & Walp.)
• Inga merianae (Splitg.)
• Inga bahiensis (Benth.)
• Inga laxiflora (Benth.)

Distribution

• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Colombia (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Peru (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Windward Is. (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Feb 15, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Feb 15, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Dec 11, 2021 by Preto Gilmar (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 2, 2008 by AMAP Lab – Guyane 2022 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2008 by AMAP Lab – Guyane 2022 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2008 by AMAP Lab – Guyane 2022 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2008 by AMAP Lab – Guyane 2022 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2008 by AMAP Lab – Guyane 2022 (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5357586)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1131764-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Inga ingoides (Rich.) Willd.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Shrub, Tree

Growth