Inga vera aka River Koko

Inga vera is an evergreen tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common names include guaba and cocoa wood. It comes from tropical South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It grows in moist forests, beside rivers, and in sheltered ravines. It also grows in forests that regrow after disturbance. Its forms vary, and botanists have grouped several former species under this name.

This fast-growing tree forms a broad crown with long branches. Its foliage is thin rather than dense. Garden size is about 39–49 feet [12–15 metres] tall. One account gives heights up to 66 feet [20 metres]. The crown can spread to 49 feet [15 metres]. The trunk can reach 1–3.3 feet [0.3–1 metre] across. Its wide crown makes it useful where shade is needed.

Bees pollinate the flowers. The narrow pods are almost round in cross-section. They measure about 0.3–0.7 feet [0.1–0.2 metres] long. Sweet pulp surrounds the seeds inside each pod. People eat this pulp, though it has limited appeal as food. People gather pods from wild trees for local use. The sources list no known hazards. This does not establish that every plant part is safe to eat.

Grow this tree in a warm, humid, tropical setting. It grows in full sun and can tolerate dappled shade. It prefers moist ground, and wild trees also occupy wet sites. Loam and clay suit it, and it tolerates limestone soils. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Its best daytime temperatures fall between 18 and 28°C. PFAF lists it for USDA zones 10–12. Sow fresh seed soon after the pods ripen. Seeds can sprout within three to five days in partial shade. Young trees grow fast and can be planted out after three to four months.

Growers plant this tree to shade coffee and cacao. It can provide crop shade within three years. It also shades roads, avenues, and public spaces. The tree fixes nitrogen and adds it to the soil. Its bark supplies tannins. Traditional remedies use the bark for anaemia and roots for gallstones. The fruit pulp also has a reported use for constipation. These records describe uses, not proof of safe or effective treatment.