Description
The fruit is a large, eye-catching red or orange capsule with about 8 shiny black seeds.
The seeds are edible raw or roasted but the black seed coat or testa should be removed first.
The fruit is a follicle up to 8 cm long which, changes from green to red at maturity, at this stage it splits open to reveal black seeds about the size of a peanut.
Seeds apparently taste like peanuts, hence the common name..
The Peanut Tree does best in full sun and well-drained soil with plenty of water and mulch.
It will tolerate poor sandy soil.
This species grows quickly.
In cooler regions, you may notice leaf drop during the winter.
A medium tree to a height of 20 metres with a spreading deciduous canopy.
With adequate pruning, it may be kept smaller in pots.
Left to its own devices, it makes an excellent shade tree that attracts birds and pollinating insects.
Altitudinal range from sea level to 500 m.
Grows in monsoon forest, vine thickets, drier, more seasonal rain forest and quite well developed rain forest.
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