Blackbead
ExplorePlants
Blackbead
Pithecellobium keyense
The Blackbead is a beautiful plant with shiny black seeds that look like beads! It grows in warm places and is loved by many animals for its tasty seeds.
Habitat: Tropical forests
Appearance
The Blackbead is a small to medium-sized tree with dark green, bipinnately compound leaves. It produces clusters of fluffy white, brush-like flowers. Its most distinctive feature is its twisted, reddish-brown pods containing shiny, hard black seeds, which resemble tiny beads.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusPithecellobium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient peoples once collected its incredibly shiny, hard black seeds to make beautiful jewelry!
Its scientific name means 'monkey's earring' because of its wonderfully coiled seed pods!
The Blackbead's tiny white flowers look just like mini bottle brushes!
This tough tree helps other plants grow by enriching soil with nutrients from the air!
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen Power-Up
Blackbead has special root nodules that host tiny bacteria, allowing it to pull nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil around it.
Ability
Water Whisperer
Blackbead can survive long dry spells thanks to its deep roots and small leaves that efficiently conserve precious water.
Ability
Sweet Seed Spreader
Blackbead produces sweet, edible pulp around its seeds, enticing animals to eat them and help spread its offspring.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 500-1000 cm
- Spread
- 300-600 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
eats
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Consumes the sweet pulp and seeds
eats
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Feeds on the seeds from the pods
shelters
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Uses branches and leaves for cover
symbiotic with
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Lives in roots, helps tree grow
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Blackbead?
500-1000 cm
How wide does Blackbead spread?
300-600 cm
How big are the flowers on Blackbead?
1-2.5 cm
When does Blackbead bloom?
Late spring to summer
Is Blackbead edible?
Yes
Is Blackbead toxic?
None
What is Blackbead's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Blackbead pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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