Page 14 - Edible Trees For Tucson

Carob

Ceratonia siliqua Fabaceae

D ESCRIPTI O N

The regal carob is an evergreen, spreading tree
with a broad, semi-spherical crown. Sturdy
trunks and branches have rough, grey-brown
bark. Leaves are alternate and pinnate, at times
with a terminal leaflet. Carob trees are dioecious,
with male and female flowers produced on
different trees. Only female trees produce pods,
but male trees are needed for pollination. Carob
trees flower in autumn; numerous small catkins
are borne on spurs of old wood and arranged
in a spiral along the floral axis. The elongated,
leguminous pods may be straight or curved
and take one year to develop. The ripe pods
eventually fall to the ground, from September to

E THN O B O T ANI CAL N O TES
• A wild carob relative is native to the
Mediterranean region.
• Romans are thought to have domesticated
carob trees.
• Carob cultivation peaked during the early
Islamic period (approx. 600 CE).
• Carob beans were used for the carat weight
unit for weighing gemstones.

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