I have found the Swiss Army Knife of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree metal money : the reek toe , also know as West Indian Locust .
This tree has an inauspicious vernacular name due to the earthy smell of its pods .
Really , they smell nothing like a “ stinking toe ” – they ’re not even unpleasant . Sort of sweet and frowsty , perhaps . The scent is surd to describe but it sure as shooting does not deserve the moniker “ stink toe . ”
That ’s just a mean mode to name one of the most utilitarian trees you ’re likely to bump . Stinking toe also gets rather large .
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Uses for Stinking Toe / West Indian Locust
West Indian Locust is purportedly a N - dolophine hydrochloride , though reports are assorted .
Accordingto James A. Duke :
“ … the wood can be used as firewood ( density 750–1050 kilogram / m3 ) the pods for alcohol genesis , but there is some enquiry as to whether this is an important nitrogen - mend tree . Isolated from nodules on a large Hawaian specimen reacted like a distinctive cowpea genus Rhizobium . Large rough - surfaced nodule were observed on 10 of 15 Filipino specimen . In Trinidad , nodulated specimens were not get ( Allen and Allen , 1981 ) . ”
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Duke also spell :
“ Important timber Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , used for piece of furniture , ( sometimes compare with mahogany tree ) , carpentry , general expression , wheels and cog , dugouts , shipbuilding , crossties , posts , loom , cartwheels , etc . The wood should be attractive for locker work , interior trim , plyboard , turnery , and facing . Indians made canoes from the liquid , hard , thick bark by stripping in one piece the bark of a large tree diagram , tailor the ends together , waterproof the seams with gum or rosin , and inclose wooden crosspieces . The ascendent and trunk give a pale yellow or scarlet resinlike gum know commercially as South American copal . The gingiva exudes and forms gruelling swelling which become immerse in the filth at the base of a tree diagram . Sometimes as much as a barrel of gum has been witness around the solution of a prominent tree or at the site of a former tree diagram . The gum is used primarily in varnish but also for incense and local medicines ( small and Wadsworth , 1964 ) . The copal is also used for patent leather and in dirt for tin product ( Uphof , 1968 ) . ”
Stinking Toe and its Marvelous Fruit
When my neighbour fetch some cod to share last workweek and I got to essay them , I had to share the experience on picture show :
They ’re really quite good and my children rust the relaxation of the pod as soon as I complete film . They ’re like little West Indian Locusts themselves . Hehheh .
On the ediblity , Useful Tropical Plants reports :
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“ Fruit – raw or cooked[301 ] . The teetotal , whitish - icteric pulp magazine around the cum has a sugared flavour and is unremarkably eaten in the altogether ; used in constitute custards and chalk emollient ; and fermented into an alcoholic beverage[301 ] . It is eaten like sweetness by children in Jamaica[301 ] . The protein content is high for a fruit[301 ] . The pulp contains 3.2 % sugar , 1.1 % fat , and 35.8 % crude fibre[303 ] . It has its own curious odour and sweet sapidity , slimly reminiscent of bananas , and is mostly count pleasant but not very attractive[303 ] . The texture is that of teetotal flour turn to a spread in the mouth , and some masses get hold this unpleasant[303 ] . It is very ironical and largely starchy , so it is a proficient author of calories[303 ] . The fruit is an indehiscent oblong pod , 5 – 15 cm long and 3 - 5 centimetre wide , containing 3 – 4 declamatory seeds[303,791 ] . A tea made from the barque is a quite popular drinking for lumberjacks working in the forests in Brazil , because it is a instinctive energy tonic[303 ] . ”
AndFAO states :
“ The jatobá fruit prolifically , although yield estimates could not be found . Very roughly , it is estimated that a matured ( 10 - year - former ) tree grown in the open may yield 1,000 - 2,000 fruit , each weigh about 50 g ; hence one tree succumb 50 - 100 kg of fresh fruit each year ( @100 trees / ha = 5 - 10 MT ) . Most of the yield is compose of the pod ( probably 50 - 70 % ) , and seminal fluid ( 25 - 40 % ) , so there is very footling floury mesocarp ( 5 - 10 % ) . Thus , one tree may yield 2.5 - 10 kg of flour ( 250 kg to 1 MT / ha / yr ) . On most of the misfortunate soils of Amazônia the blue estimates are more probable or may even be in high spirits . ”
Infogalactic haseven more information on the edible pod of stinking toe :
“ The yield were a major intellectual nourishment for the autochthonous population . The smell is not considered unpleasant by those who eat it . The pulp inside the heavy eggshell appears like miniature soluble fibers that break up easily in weewee or milk , which it thicken . Some like to add sugar for more sweetness , and if eaten raw it can tend to stick in the mouthpiece like juiceless detritus .
It is one of the richest vegetable food for thought sleep together because of its high concentration of starches and proteins.[8 ]
The pulp magazine , in maliciousness of it somewhat disagreeable smell , is of a angelic mouthful , is eaten raw , is also dried and transformed into powder to be integrate in biscuit ( or crackers ) and soups , or is mixed with H2O to prepare a drinkable , squall atole . It can also be a first - rate dressed ore feed for animals . ”
From seed , West Indian Locust is reported to take 6 - 10 long time to bear fuel pod . The tree diagram can grow in shade but does the ripe in full sun .
This is the tree from which amber reportedly fossilizes , so without the stinking toe tree , there would be noJurassic Park .
Yes , Miss Sattler – you heard me right . Is there anything this tree ca n’t do ?
Oh – and one more thing – the seeds are often made into artwork :
“ In Costa Rica the seed are make love as “ guapinol ” and are made into polished hardwood pendants . The dark brownish coating is sanded off on one side and the smooth ivorylike inner surface is paint with a colorful commonwealth scene . ”(source )
Wayne ’s Word hasa nice picture here .
I planted seeds this last weekend and will post an update when they germinate .
I do n’t know that I ’ll be painting on any of them , as I hate to waste a unmarried one ! Maybe later when I ’m harvest buckets of pods .
Finally , stink toe may grow all the mode into zone 9 , so if you ’re in South Florida , on the coast in one of the Confederate states , or in Southern California , this tree would likely be worth plant .
SPUDOMETER RATING :
Name : Stinking Toe , West Indian Locust , Brazilian copalLatin Name : Hymenaea courbarilType : Large treeNitrogen Fixer : Most likelyMedicinal : YesCold - dauntless : NoExposure : Full sun / part shadePart Used : Sap , bark , wood , eatable pod , seed carve and paintedPropagation : SeedTaste : GoodMethod of readying : Edible pith in pods can be eaten dry or mixed into drinks and confectionsStorability : UnknownEase of grow : gentle in tropical climatesNutrition : HighRecognizability : LowAvailability : Low
