Leucaena leucocephala

Guaje / White Leadtree

Leucaena leucocephala

Regions: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala

This small tree has ferny leaves and small ball-shaped flowers. Native to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, it can unfortunately be very invasive in places of similar tropical climates.  The state of Oaxaca in Mexico was named after the trees, from the Nahuatl word huaxyacac, meaning ‘Place of the Guaje’. The tree produces bean pods, and the beans can be eaten when unripe and still soft, or dried and roasted and eaten as a snack or used to flavor moles and salsas.