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Glite Dictionary
Inga edulis

Inga edulis

9.6
An evergreen tree from tropical America with white flowers and sweet pulp inside long pods
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Inga edulis
  • The shade offered by the Inga edulis made the park bench the perfect place to read.

Examples

  • Many landscapers recommend Inga edulis for its beautiful flowers.

  • The sweet, edible pulp of Inga edulis pods is enjoyed by both children and adults.

  • Farmers often plant Inga edulis to help restore soil fertility in tropical regions.

  • The Inga edulis tree is often used for shade in gardens.

  • Farmers often plant Inga edulis as an ornamental tree in their gardens.

  • The shade offered by the Inga edulis made it an ideal spot for picnics on hot days.

  • Many landscapers admire Inga edulis for its striking white flowers in full bloom.

Synonyms

ice-cream bean
vsInga edulis
  • US
9.9

A tropical evergreen tree with long pods of soft white pulp you can eat

is valued mainly for its ornamental use and for providing shade

Surface Forms

Inga edulis singular
Inga edulises plural

Morphology

inga + edulis

The binomial 'Inga edulis' is partially compositional: 'Inga' names the genus and 'edulis' is a Latin epithet related to 'edible', so a learner who knows those constituents could infer it labels a plant/species that is edible. However, species epithets are botanical/Latin conventions and do not directly specify 'evergreen tree' or the ornamental/shade uses, and many B1 learners will not know or recognize 'edulis', so the relation is only partly transparent.

Etymology

Inga edulis probably comes from the local name Inga for the tree and the Latin word edulis, which means 'edible'. That's why the name points to a tree known for its sweet, edible pulp and pods.