Inga edulis (Ice Cream Bean)

Native to tropical South America, this plant is a fast-growing tree cultivated for food and shade. Its long, ribbed pods contain seeds surrounded by sweet, spongy white pulp with a flavour compared to vanilla ice cream. The edible tissue develops from the seed coat rather than the pod wall and is usually eaten raw. The tree provides shade for coffee and cacao, while bacteria in its root nodules fix nitrogen. Its seeds lose viability quickly and may begin germinating inside the pod. Photographed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.