White bauhinia (Bauhinia petersiana)

Family: Fabaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Bauhinia petersiana is a deciduous Tree growing to 7 m (23ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

pleasant-tasting, coarse meal. — Roasted and eaten like nuts, when they are considered a delicacy.; The seeds can be harvested whilst immature - the whole green pod is briefly roasted and then the seeds removed and eaten.; A meal made from the pounded seeds is eaten.; The seeds can be eaten green, but ripe seeds are usually roasted, peeled, and pounded into a pleasant-tasting, coarse meal.

Habitat & North American Range

Open grassland, wooded grassland and woodland, at elevations from 150 - 1,850 metres in east Africa. (Zone 9)