Jangal Jalebi / Manila Tamarind
Pithecellobium dulce
Also known as Sweet Tamarind, Blackbead, Madras Thorn, Monkeypod, Guamuchil, Guayamochil
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu & more
- Flowering
- December-July
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Pithecellobium dulce
- Genus
- Pithecellobium
- Family
- Mimosaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, also planted in gardens
- Habitat type
- Forest, Cultivated
- Native to
- Tropical America
- Distribution
- Cultivated Tropics of the World
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal
- Flowering & fruiting
- December-July
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Typical of the Mimosaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Mimosaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- Jangal Jalebi जंगल जलेबी,जंगल जलेबी jangala jalebi, पिथोस्बॉबियम डूलस
- Nepali
- जलेबी
- Bengali
- খইয়া বাবলা
- Tamil
- கொடுக்காப்புளி Kodukkappuli, கொடுக்காப்புளி, கொடுக்காய்ப்புளி
- Telugu
- సీమ చింత
- Kannada
- ಸೀಮೆಹುಣಸೆ Seeme hunase, ಕೊರಕಾಪುಳಿ Korakaapuli, ಕೊಟ್ಟಾಂಪುಳಿ Kottaampuli, ಸೀಮೆ ಹುಣಸೆ
- Malayalam
- മാനിലപ്പുളി
- Marathi
- विलायती चिंच Vilayatichinch, विलायती चिंच
- Odia
- ଶିମକଇଁଆ
Jangal Jalebi in India
This thorny tree, known as Jangal Jalebi जंगल जलेबी (Hindi), கொடுக்காப்புளி Kodukkappuli (Tamil), సీమ చింత (Telugu), ಸೀಮೆಹುಣಸೆ Seeme hunase (Kannada), മാനിലപ്പുളി (Malayalam), विलायती चिंच Vilayatichinch (Marathi), is a common roadside and wasteland tree valued for its sweet pods. Pithecellobium dulce is found across Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, tolerating poor soil and drought well.
Uses
The curled, split-open pods reveal a sweet-tart white to pink pulp around the seeds, eaten fresh as a snack — the twisted pod shape is the origin of its 'jungle jalebi' nickname; the thorny branches also make it a useful living fence.
How to Identify Jangal Jalebi
A thorny tree with distinctive bipinnate leaves made of just two leaflets per pair, unusual among compound-leaved trees. Small fragrant greenish-white flower puffs are followed by long, curling, coiled pods that split open to show the pulp and shiny black seeds inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Manila Tamarind called in different Indian languages?
- Jangal Jalebi जंगल जलेबी (Hindi); கொடுக்காப்புளி Kodukkappuli (Tamil); సీమ చింత (Telugu); ಸೀಮೆಹುಣಸೆ Seeme hunase (Kannada); മാനിലപ്പുളി (Malayalam); विलायती चिंच Vilayatichinch (Marathi); খইয়া বাবলা (Bengali); ଶିମକଇଁଆ (Odia).
- Why is it called 'jungle jalebi'?
- Its ripe pods curl and coil tightly, splitting open to reveal sweet pulp — a shape and taste reminiscent of the spiral Indian sweet jalebi.
- Is the fruit actually edible?
- Yes — the sweet-tart white or pink pulp around the seeds is commonly eaten fresh as a snack, especially by children in areas where the tree grows wild.
Mimosaceae
Mimosa/Acacia family
Jangal Jalebi belongs to the Mimosaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Mimosaceae family →Snap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Mimosaceae
View all Mimosaceae →Sources: GBIF — Pithecellobium dulce (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Pithecellobium dulce (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)