Tropical Plant "Mari-mari"
Cassia leiandra

Characteristics - The mari-mari is a rarely cultivated fruit tree, however, it is easily found in its natural habitat, the forests of the flood plains and the seasonally flooded forest near lagoons and canals, in the states of Para and Amazonas, particularly in the Lower Amazon region as far up as Manaus. It is a small tree (6-14 m tall), deciduous, with a broad crown and, generally, a twisted trunk. Leaves are pin-nately compound, with 9-12 pairs of leaflets, membranaceous and glabrous, 4-7 cm long. Flowers are showy, androgynous, arranged in pendulous clusters forming from July to October. Fruits are of the woody legume type, cilindrical, indehiscent, 40-70 cm long, with an acidic-sweet pulp surrounding the seeds, while they are still green (January-February).

Uses - The fruits are consumed in their natural state and greatly appreciated locally.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.