Pithecellobium dulce

Pithecellobium dulce (Manila tamarind, Monkeypod) is a native flowering plant from Mexico and was introduced and naturalised in the Caribbean, Florida, Guam and Southeast Asia. It is also considered as a weed in Hawaii. It is called (English) manila tamarind, (Hawaii) 'opiuma, and (Filipino) kamatsile, Jungle jalebi and Madras thorn.

The tree is about 5 to 8 meters high. Its trunk is spiny and its leaves are bipinnate. Each pinna has a single pair of ovate-oblong leaflets that are about 2 to 4 cm long. The flowers are greenish-white, fragrant, sessile and reach about 12 cm long though looks shorter due to coiling. The flowers produce a pod with an edible pulp. The seeds are black.

The seeds is propagated via birds that feeds on the sweet pod. The Manila tamarind is drought-resistant and can survive in dry land from sea level to 300m elevation. Because of these characteristics they are usually cultivated as street trees.

Uses
In folk medicine, a decoction of its bark can cure frequent bowel movement. The leaves can be applied as plasters for pain and veneral sores. Decoctions of leaves are also used for indigestion and abortifacient. Its fruit's pulp is sweet and can be eaten raw or prepared as beverage.

Its bark is also used due to its high tannin content and might be the reason behind its introduction to Guam from Mexico via the Philippines.

Gallery
Tamarin d'Inde