Archidendron jiringa (Jack) Nielsen (Fabaceae)

Scientific name
Archidendron jiringa (Jack) Nielsen
Family name
Fabaceae (Syn. Leguminosae)
Local name
Niang
Tree, up to 20 m tall. Leaves opposite, 2-pinnate, up to 25 cm long, ovate-elliptic to oblong, chartaceous, glabrous. Inflorescence axillary, paniculate, up to 20 cm long. Flowers sessile, 4–7 per pseudo-umbel on short peduncle, 5-merous, bisexual. Calyx cup-shaped. Corolla tubular, 4–5 mm long, 5-lobed, white. Stamens numerous, united into a tube at base; free filament parts c. 5 mm long. Fruit a legume, compressed, falcate or twisted in a wide spiral, woody, greyish, glabrous, dehiscent along the ventral suture. Seeds compressed, orbicular; testa yellow-green when young, turning dark brown.
Traditional medicinal use
Functionality
Functional constituents
Common in primary and secondary rainforests and evergreen forests on sandy soil, flat land, or low, undulating hills, at elevations from sea level to 1000 (–1600) m a.s.l. Propagated by seed sowing at a spacing of 10–15 m.
Seeds are sold as food in local markets throughout Thailand, and are eaten raw or steamed in side dishes with hot curries. Young immature seeds contain 93 g water, 3.5 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 1.7 g carbohydrates, 21 mg calcium, 25 mg phosphorus, 0.7 mg iron, 240 IU vitamin A, 0.1 mg vitamin B1, and 12 mg vitamin C per 100-g serving. Young seeds of Archidendron quocense (Pierre) Nielsen (vernacular name: luk yong) are similarly sold in local markets in the south-eastern provinces of Thailand for consumption in the same manner.
Caution: Seeds with high levels of toxic djengkolic acid (varying among individual trees) can cause mild to severe urinary problems following consumption.
Pulses
Pulses
Pulses/Legumes