Erythrina edulis
| Balu (Erythrina edulis) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Erythrina edulis [1] |
| Common names | Balu; junchua sacha porota |
| Genus | Erythrina |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Order | Fabales |
| Growth form | Prickly, fast-growing tree to about 14 m, with a crown up to about 7 m [2] |
| Native setting | South American highlands and disturbed open ground, from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela [1] [2] |
| Food use | Seeds are used cooked; uncooked seeds require a conservative safety approach [2] |
Erythrina edulis, known as balu and junchua sacha porota, is a prickly highland tree cultivated as a food crop in the northern Andes. Current taxonomic treatment accepts Erythrina edulis and records Erythrina esculenta and Erythrina lorenoi as synonyms. [1] Its native range includes Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, while cultivation is described from roughly 900–3,200 m in the dry to moist tropics. [1] [2]
Description[edit | edit source]
This is a fast-growing, prickly tree reaching about 14 m, with a crown reported to about 7 m. It is associated with pioneer growth in disturbed open ground and with highland food production. The described climate range spans about 5–25 °C mean annual temperature and 450–1,800 mm annual rainfall; frequent frost is not tolerated, and no precise minimum temperature is given. [2]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
Sandy loam or heavy clay is reported as suitable, while soils below about pH 4.5 are avoided. Use a fertile, well-drained root zone rather than allowing prolonged saturation. Reliable moisture is particularly important during establishment because prolonged drought is poorly tolerated by young plants. [2]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Full sun is described for established growth, with some early shade tolerance. Nursery plants can be shaded initially and then exposed gradually as they develop. The species comes from dry to moist tropical highland conditions, so strong light should be matched with adequate water during active growth rather than with extended drought. [2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Native conditions range from dry to moist tropics, and the plant is cultivated across a broad highland elevation range. In a seasonal climate, increase attention to irrigation during the dry period, especially while a tree is establishing, and protect it from frequent frost. Seeds mature about three months after flowering; local temperature and rainfall will affect the calendar. [1] [2]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Both seed and large cuttings are used. Germination begins in about 5–10 days. Nursery seedlings are shaded and then gradually exposed; approximately 60-day-old seedlings may be planted out in holes about 30 cm deep. Large-stake cuttings also use careful cutting care and sealing, but dimensions and timing are source-specific guidance rather than a guaranteed result for every provenance. [2]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Seedlings are reported to begin fruiting at about 24–27 months, while cuttings may fruit at about 18 months. These are qualified horticultural estimates that can change with climate, plant material, and management. Seeds are reported to mature about three months after flowering. [2]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The seeds are used as food after cooking. Uncooked seeds should not be treated as interchangeable with cooked food: prolonged consumption can be toxic, and Erythrina alkaloids vary among species. No safe dose is given, and a species-specific modern toxicology conclusion should not be inferred; preparation and safety decisions require particular caution. [2]