Parkinsonia aculeata

Parkinsonia aculeata is a species of perennial flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include palo verde, Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, jelly bean tree, palo de rayo, and retama.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-4 m tall but can be 10 m tall. It can have one or several stems. The bark is smooth and green. The smooth branches are zigzagged. It is spiny and has drooping branches. The spines are at the base of each leaf. The leaves are long and thin. They are compound with unusual leaflets. They are small and widely spaced along the flattened leaf stalk. There is a spine at the end. The flowers are yellow and have one red-brown petal. They have a scent. The fruit are straight pods 10 cm long. These are constricted between the seeds. The pods turn brown when ripe. The seeds are oblong and dark brown.

Edible Uses

The mature seeds are dried and then cooked when required. They are rich in protein (approximately 21% protein, 62% carbohydrate, and 8% fat) and have potential as a human food source. Dried powdered seed has a digestibility rating of 76%, rising to 85% when cooked — higher than many commonly eaten legumes. The seeds do contain antinutritional factors including trypsin inhibitors, phenols, alkaloids, and haemagglutinin, but not in concentrations high enough to pose a major nutritional problem; these factors are soluble in saline solutions and can be removed by soaking or cooking. The pulp inside the seedpod can be eaten raw and has a sweet flavour with up to 60% sugars.

Traditional Uses

The immature seeds are eaten raw. Ripe seeds are roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute. The seeds are also parched, sun dried and cooked and eaten. The fruit pulp is sweet and edible.

Medicinal Uses

Decoctions of the leaf, fruit, and stem are taken orally and applied externally to treat fever, atony, and malaria. The decoction is also reported to be abortifacient. Extractions of flowers and leaves in alcohol are applied as a poultice to treat rheumatism.

Known Hazards

The leaves are reported to contain hydrocyanic acid and to be toxic.

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It is native from Mexico to Honduras. It grows in warm subtropical and tropical places. It suits semi-arid places. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 200-1,000 mm per year. It grows along drainage lines and on flood plains. It grows in dry lowland grassland and coastal regions. It grows in the Sahel. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level. It can grow in alkaline and salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Antilles, Asia, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil*, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Galapagos, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesser Antilles, Libya, Marquesas, Martinique, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sahel, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA*, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 32°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -4°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 300 - 700mm, but tolerates 200 - 1,000mm. Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in well-drained, sandy to loamy soils. Tolerant of poor, gravely or sandy soils. Plants can tolerate moderate levels of salt in the soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8.5. Plants can withstand droughts of up to 9 months. The tree reproduces so easily that it can escape from controlled cultivation and become a weed. It forms impenetrable thorny thickets that compete with and exclude native species. The tree is fast-growing but short-lived. It can reach a height of 2.5 metres within 2 years from seed. Young fertilized plants can grow up to 1 metre annually. The branches of wild plants are often hollow and inhabited by ants. There are conflicting reports on whether or not this tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether this tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

Propagation

The hard seedcoat benefits from scarification before sowing. Pour a small amount of nearly boiling water over the seeds (taking care not to cook them) and soak in warm water for 12–24 hours until swollen. If they have not swollen, carefully nick the seedcoat without damaging the embryo and soak for a further 12 hours. Sow in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A high germination rate can be expected, with sprouting within 8–16 days. Plants should be ready to set out 8–10 months later.

Other Uses

The tree is used for erosion control and reforestation in sandy, arid areas and is useful for reclaiming wastelands, gullied areas, and mining spoil. It produces large amounts of leaf litter suitable for use as a soil mulch. The plant forms impenetrable hedges and makes an effective windbreak. The heartwood is light brown, clearly demarcated from a thick band of yellowish sapwood. The wood is close-grained, moderately heavy, hard, very compact, and highly durable. Where available in sufficient size it is used for general carpentry; otherwise it is used for light poles and posts. The wood burns well and makes good fuel and charcoal. Pods and leaves are used as fodder.

Production

It grows quickly.

Other Information

The seeds are eaten especially by children.

Notes

There are (2-3) 12-29 Parkinsonia species. The thorns make it a weed problem. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Adanti, Balati kikar, Barbados flower fence, Cemaraan, Cina cina, Espinillo, Garabato, Geed walaayo, Kim tuoc chi, Kunto-barbariae, Mexican palo verde, Muk-bee, Mya-sein, Myinsa-goni, Okwato, Palo verde, Pardeshi baval, Parkinsonia, Ram baval, Ratamah, Ratta-maa, Retamo rojo, Retma, Shauk al-bahr, Sima tumma, Vilayati babul, Vilayati kikar

References (57)

• Addis, G., et al, 2005, Ethnobotanical Study of Edible Wild Plants in Some Selected Districts of Ethiopia. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 83-118
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 430
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62

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