Trees to 30 m. Bark smooth. Leaves: stipules linear-subulate, 2–3 mm; petiole 3–5(–8) cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, with sessile, elliptic gland distal to middle; rachis pubescent or glabrous; stipels distal to secondary pulvinus, linear-subulate, 1 mm; leaflet blade asymmetrical, linear-oblong to subfalcate, 8–15 × 3–4 mm, base obliquely rounded, apex obliquely acute to obtuse, mucronate. Peduncles 0.5–2 cm. Inflorescences: heads (on secondary branches) 0.5–1 cm, 1–2 cm diam. Pedicels 1 mm. Flowers: calyx 2 mm, 5-ribbed, pubescent on outer surface, lobes triangular, 0.25 mm; corolla funnelform, 5–6 mm, pubescent on outer surface, lobes linear-lanceolate, 2 mm; stamens ca. 80, 8–10 mm, white or cream, glabrous; filaments connate 4 mm proximally. Fruits blackish, (55–)60–70(–80) × (40–)50–60 mm, dull, glaucous. Seeds dark brown, flattened, 10 × 5 mm, with evident pleurogram. 2n = 26 (South America).

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Fla., South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay), introduced also in West Indies, Africa.

Discussion

Enterolobium contortisiliquum is known from cen­tral peninsular Florida.

Enterolobium contortisiliquum is cultivated in tropi­cal and subtropical areas of the Americas and Africa. The species is used for wood in construction and cabine­try and is often cultivated as a shade tree in the tropics and subtropics. The seeds contain toxic saponins.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.