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Accession Data:

Ceratonia siliqua L.

  • Common Name: Carob, St. John's Bread
  • Family: Fabaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Mediterranean region
  • Habitat: Rocky places near the sea shore

  • Description: Dioecious. This accession is female.

    Legend says St. John ate the pods, thus the second common name.

    Many plants have a rich history of use throughout time, but few can probably out boast the humble carob tree. It is said that the sweet pulpy fruit pods of the tree were the "locusts" that St. John survived on in the wilderness and thus the name associated with it.

    In 1811 and 1812, these pods were the principle food of the British Cavalry during the war and they have been much used for cattle fodder. At one time, the seeds were in high demand by chemists, as singers thought that they cleared the throat. The seeds were even once used by jewelers as the original carat weight. Even medicinal uses have been found for the pods, with laxative and demulcent qualities being associated with them.

    The pods are rich in protein and sugar and have often been proclaimed "wholesome for man or beast". The pulp is a valuable sweetener and chocolate substitute and the seeds have even been roasted as a coffee substitute. The seeds and pods can be fermented and distilled, with the drink retaining the appealing flavor of the pods. The seeds ground up produce a protein rich flour that contains no starch or sugar and is ideal for diabetics. A mature tree can produce over 400 pounds of pods and seeds annually.

    The tree itself is a native of the East Mediterranean area. It grows to 30 ft. with attractive, shiny green leaves and dark red flowers. It grows very well in dry areas and produces a beautiful wood with a pinkish hue. Young plants are excellent tub specimens for the greenhouse and mature plants are hardy to about 18 degrees. Seeds are relatively easy to germinate. Simply nick the hard outer coating and soak in warm water until swollen. Plant 1" deep in loose, well drained soil and they will normally germinate in about 3-4 weeks.

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 199000057
  • Source: Ressel
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1990
  • Bench: 2103 - MED:Mediterranean C
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 01-13-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: eurosid I
  • Order: Fabales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • SubFamily: Caesalpinioideae
  • Tribe: Cassieae
  • SubTribe: Ceratoniinae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

References (internal):

  • Edible Plants
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: France / Spain / Albania / Greece / Italy / Yugoslavia / Algeria / Libya / Morocco / Tunisia / Canary Is. / Cyprus / Lebanon-Syria / Palestine / Turkey

References (external):

  1. Plants For A Future Last accessed on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
  2. California Rare Fruit Growers WWW Site
  3. SBE Seed January '97 email Newsletter
  4. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
  5. Ceratonia siliqua at ARS-GRIN. Last accessed on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
  6. Ceratonia siliqua at Wikipedia. Last accessed on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

data regenerated on Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:24:05 -0500 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Ceratonia siliqua

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Fabaceae

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae

  • Delonix regia

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Tribe Cassieae

  • Cassiinae: Cassia fistula
  • Cassiinae: Senna corymbosa
  • Ceratoniinae: Ceratonia oreothauma W/C
  • Ceratoniinae: Ceratonia siliqua
  • Ceratoniinae: Ceratonia siliqua

Subfamily Caesalpinioideae
Tribe Detarieae

  • Schotia afra
  • Schotia brachypetala
  • Tamarindus indica

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Amorpheae

  • Amorpha fruticosa

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Desmodieae

  • Desmodiinae: Codariocalyx motorius

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Genisteae

  • Genista canariensis
  • Ulex europaeus

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Millettieae

  • Derris elliptica

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Phaseoleae

  • Cajaninae: Rhynchosia phaseoloides
  • Clitoriinae: Clitoria ternatea
  • Erythrininae: Apios americana
  • Erythrininae: Erythrina crista-galli

Subfamily Faboideae
Tribe Sophoreae

  • Baphia racemosa

Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Acacieae

  • Acacia angustissima
  • Acacia arabica
  • Acacia brachybotrya
  • Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae
  • Acacia saligna
  • Vachellia cornigera
  • Vachellia farnesiana
  • Vachellia hindsii

Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Ingeae

  • Archidendron grandiflorum
  • Calliandra californica
  • Calliandra haematocephala
  • Inga edulis

Subfamily Mimosoideae
Tribe Mimoseae

  • Leucaena leucocephala
  • Mimosa pudica
  • Prosopis juliflora
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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