294 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



oughly naturalized in the Philippines. It is common and widely 

 distributed. 



Genus SESBANIA 

 SESBANIA GRANDIFLORA Benth. Katurai. 



A description of this species and its local names are given in 

 the section on resins, gums, and oils. 



The flowers are cooked as a vegetable. The young fruits are 

 eaten in the same manner as are string beans. 



Genus TAMARINDUS 

 TAMARINDUS INDICA L. (Fig. 33). SampaLOK. 



Local names: Saloindfji (Cagayan, Ilocos Norte) ; sambdg, sanbdrj (Ho- 

 llo, Guimaras Island) ; xaliondfji (Abra) ; sampdlok (Union, Pangasinan, 

 Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bulacan, Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Tayabas, 

 Camarines). 



The pods are 6 to 15 centimeters long, 2 to 3 centimeters wide, 

 and constricted between the seeds, which are surrounded by an 

 acid pulp of good flavor. The young leaves are boiled as a flavor- 

 ing with meat. 



TamavinduH indica is a large tree from 12 to 25 meters in 

 height. The leaves are 6 to 10 centimeters long, unevenly pin- 

 nate with 20 to 40 leaflets which are 1 to 2 centimeters long. 

 The petals are yellowish with pink stripes, and less than a centi- 

 meter in length. 



This species is probably a native of tropical Africa, but is 

 now cultivated in all tropical countries. It is grown extensively 

 in the Philippines for its fruit and as a shade tree, but also 

 occurs spontaneously. It is apparently more abundant in Luzon 

 than in the Bisaya Islands or Mindanao. 



Family OXALIDACEAE 



Genus AVERRHOA 

 AVERRHOA BILIMBI L. (Fig. 34). Kamias. 



Local names: Iba (Camarines, Mindoro, Masbate, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, 

 Basilan) ; kalamids (Mindoro) ; koIo7unias (Tayabas) ; kamids (Nueva 

 Ecija, Bataan, Manila, Rizal, Laguna); puift (Amburayan subprovince). 



The fruit is somewhat cylindrical or with five obscure, broad, 

 rounded, longitudinal lobes. It is about 4 centimeters long, 

 green, acid, and edible. 



Averrhoa bilimbi is a small tree 5 to 12 meters high. The 

 leaves are pinnate, and from 20 to 60 centimeters in length. 

 The leaflets are opposite, with 10 to 17 pairs, pointed at the tip, 

 rather narrow, and 5 to 10 centimeters long. The flowering 

 branches grow from the trunk and larger branches. They are 

 hairy and 15 centimeters or less in length. The flowers are 



