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Glite Dictionary
Pithecellobium dulce

Pithecellobium dulce

9.9
A thorny tropical tree with yellow flowers, curved pods you can eat, and useful wood and gum
  • noun
  • /ˌpɪθəˌsɛləbɪəm ˈdʌlkeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Pithecellobium dulce
  • The Pithecellobium dulce tree is often planted for shade and its edible pods.

Examples

  • Farmers value Pithecellobium dulce for its timber and gum production.

  • Children enjoy the sweet pulp found inside the pods of Pithecellobium dulce.

  • The Pithecellobium dulce tree is known for its unique yellow flowers.

  • Have you ever tasted the fruit of the Pithecellobium dulce?

  • Children enjoy the sweet pulp found inside the pods of Pithecellobium dulce.

  • Farmers value Pithecellobium dulce for its timber and gum production.

  • The Pithecellobium dulce tree is often planted for shade and its edible pods.

Synonyms

huamachil
vsPithecellobium dulce
  • US
9.9

A thorny tropical tree with yellow flowers and edible curved pods used for wood and dye

focuses more on its commercial products like wood gum and dye
camachile
vsPithecellobium dulce
  • US
9.9

A thorny tropical tree with sweet, edible curved pods

lists similar commercial parts but uses a botanical description
manila tamarind
vsPithecellobium dulce
  • Philippine
9.9

A thorny tropical tree that has sweet edible pods eaten as a snack

gives a general account of edible pods and useful timber and gum

Surface Forms

Pithecellobium dulce singular
Pithecellobium dulces plural

Morphology

Pithecellobium + dulce

The genus name 'Pithecellobium' already signals a thorny tropical shrub/tree, so a learner who knows that constituent could infer the referent is a kind of tree. The species epithet 'dulce' (cognate with Latin/Spanish for 'sweet') might hint at edible/sweet pods, but the full botanical description and commercial uses cannot be fully predicted from the parts because this is a Latin binomial functioning as a proper name. Thus the relation is partial: some aspects are inferable but the complete meaning is not fully compositional.

Etymology

Pithecellobium dulce may come from a Greek root pithec- meaning 'monkey' and the Latin word dulce meaning 'sweet'. This gives a simple picture: monkeys and people eat the tree's sweet pods, so the name points to the plant's edible, sweet fruit.