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Archidendron jiringa (Jack) Nielsen

Family Name:	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Synonyms:	Mimosa jiringa, Pithecellobium jiringa
Common Name:	Jering

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Suitable for Roadsides

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Growth Form	Tree

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Bangka Island, Borneo, and Java
Local Conservation Status	Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a medium-sized tree up to 24 m tall with a large, round crown.
Trunk	Its bark is grey or grey-white.
Foliage	Its alternate, long-stalked, bipinnate leaves consist of one pair of leaflets. Each leaflet bears 2–3 pairs of papery, secondary leaflets that are opposite, oblong-oval, and 5–28 by 2.4–10 cm. These secondary leaflets are dark greyish on both surfaces, or green below when dried. New leaves are richly purple.

Flowers	Its flowers are greenish-white to cream-white, and develop 3–7 together in flower-heads that are about 2 cm wide. These flower-heads are arranged in 10–30 cm-long shoots, at the older leaf’s angles, or on the twigs behind the leaves.
Fruit	Its fruit pods are leathery, 5.2 cm wide, strongly lobed at each seed, and coiled. They ripen dull purplish-brown when they split open to reveal the reddish-brown seeds. Its seeds are also up to 35 mm wide, and smell of garlic.
Habitat	It grows in evergreen primary and secondary forests, and around villages, up to 1,000 m altitude. It occurs locally in Pulau Ubin and in some forest edges in Singapore Island.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are also insect-pollinated. Its seeds are eaten by monkeys and squirrels.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Greek archi, primitive; Greek dendron, tree; Latin jiringa, derived from the species’ Malay name
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Properties Based on research on the effects of Jering on animals, it has these medicinal properties: Antimicrobial <4>, anti-diabetic <3>, anti-gastric <1>. However, Jering beans contains djenkolic acid known to cause djenkolism which varies in symptoms from mild abdominal colic to acute renal failure <5>. It is advised against consuming them raw, untreated or without medical advice. Traditional Medicinal Uses In Southeast Asia countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, indigenous communities used this plant traditionally for its therapeutic value to overcome dysentery, treat toothache, gum pains, chest pains and skin ailments. <2> It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. Timber & Products: The wood splits when drying, and so is used for coffins and firewood. Others: The bark and leaves are used to dye mats black, while fruit pods dye silk purple.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Propagation Method

Seed

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Papery
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Purple

Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s)	White

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Leathery

References

References	<1> Ibrahim, A.A.I., Suhailah, W.Q., Mahmood, A.A., Amal, R.N., Siddig, I.A. & Fouad, H.A. (2012). Effects of Pithecellobium Jiringa Ethanol Extract against Ethanol-induced Gastic Mucosal Injuries in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Molecules 17: 2796-2811. <2> Lim, T.K. (2012). Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plant vol. 2, Fruits. pp. 544-548. Netherland: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. <3> Radhiah, S., Suhaila, M., Noordin, M.M. & Azizah, A.H. (2011). Evaluating the toxic and beneficial effects of jering beans (Archidendron jiringa) in normal and diabetic rats. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 91: 2697-2706. <4> Ruzilawati, A.B., Imran, A. & Shaida, F.S. (2012). Effect of Pithecellobium jiringa as antimicrobial agent. Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology 7: 131-134. <5> Wong, J.S., Chua, H.H., Tan, C. & Ong, T.A. (2007). Acute anuric renal failure following Jering Bean ingestion. Asian Journal of Surgery 30(1): 80-81.

References

<1> Ibrahim, A.A.I., Suhailah, W.Q., Mahmood, A.A., Amal, R.N., Siddig, I.A. & Fouad, H.A. (2012). Effects of Pithecellobium Jiringa Ethanol Extract against Ethanol-induced Gastic Mucosal Injuries in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Molecules 17: 2796-2811.

<2> Lim, T.K. (2012). Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plant vol. 2, Fruits. pp. 544-548. Netherland: Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

<3> Radhiah, S., Suhaila, M., Noordin, M.M. & Azizah, A.H. (2011). Evaluating the toxic and beneficial effects of jering beans (Archidendron jiringa) in normal and diabetic rats. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 91: 2697-2706.

<4> Ruzilawati, A.B., Imran, A. & Shaida, F.S. (2012). Effect of Pithecellobium jiringa as antimicrobial agent. Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology 7: 131-134.

<5> Wong, J.S., Chua, H.H., Tan, C. & Ong, T.A. (2007). Acute anuric renal failure following Jering Bean ingestion. Asian Journal of Surgery 30(1): 80-81.

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Master ID	1431
Species ID	2724
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.