Leucaena confertiflora var. confertiflora
Zarate
Guaje, Gueje dal Cerro, Huaje
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A tropical shrub or tree in the legume family that grows continuously year to year. The unripe pods and seeds are edible portions of this occasionally cultivated plant.
Edible Uses
Leucaena species are grown for their variety of uses, including as green manure, a charcoal source, livestock fodder, and for soil conservation. The seeds (jumbie beans) can be used as beads. Leucaena planted for firewood on an area of 120 km2 (46 sq mi) will yield an energy equivalent of 1 million barrels of oil per year. Anthelmintic medicines are made from extracts of Leucaena seeds in Sumatra, Indonesia. Some species (namely Leucaena leucocephala) have edible fruits (as unripe) and seeds. The seeds of Leucaena esculenta (in Mexico called guaje or huaje) are eaten with salt in Mexico. In other species high levels of mimosine may lead to hair loss and infertility in non-ruminants.
Traditional Uses
The unripe pods are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Central America, Mexico*, North America,
Other Information
Trees are occasionally cultivated.
Notes
Also as Mimosaceae.
References (5)
- Argel, P. J., Lascano, C. E. and Ramirez, L., 1998, Leucaena in Latin American Farming Systems: Challenges for Development. Paper at workshop on Leucaena in Hanoi.
- Hughes, C., 1998, Monograph of Leucaena. Systematic Botany Monographs 55
- ILDIS Legumes of the World http:www:ildis.org/Legume/Web
- Mapes, C. & Basurto, F., 2016, Biodiversity and Edible Plants of Mexico. Chapter 5 in R. Lira, et al. (eds.), Ethnobotany of Mexico, Ethnobiology, Springer. p 94
- Oldfield, S., et al, 1998, The World List of Threatened Trees. World Conservation Press. p 318
