Nature Field Guide
Ice Cream Bean
- Spanish name
- Guaba
- Scientific name
- Inga edulis
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico wants to sketch the tree’s silhouette. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?
Species overview
About the Ice Cream Bean
Guaba is planted for its long ribbed pods and as a shade tree. The leaves are compound, with paired leaflets and a noticeable wing along the central stalk. It is South American in origin and is cultivated and naturalized in Costa Rica.
Identification
Key Features of the Ice Cream Bean
Very long ribbed pods
Paired leaflets
Winged central leaf stalk
Habitat & range
Moist forest margins, farms and planted orchards.
Local observations
OTS lists Caribbean and northern lowlands, Central Valley, Central Pacific and Osa; ACG records the Rincon Rain Forest sector. Regional tags are evidence-based connections, not a guarantee at every location or an exhaustive range.
When to observe
Visit in daylight and compare leaves, flowers and fruits. Flowering and fruiting vary by place, weather and individual plant; a plant may not be in bloom during your visit.
Conservation & care
Observe from paths and leave leaves, bark, flowers and fruits attached. Do not taste wild plants or offer them to pets. Ask a knowledgeable guide to confirm the species.
Observation activity
Draw one leaf and one other feature without picking anything. Compare your sketch with the illustration and record whether you saw flowers, fruits or neither.
Explore by location
Caribbean · Central Pacific · Central Valley · Guanacaste · Northern Plains · South Pacific