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The Petai (Parkia speciosa) belongs to Mimosaceae (the Mimosa family). It is a tall deciduous tree that is distributed from Thailand to western and central Malaysia. It grows in low-altitude primary and secondary forests, reaching heights of 18 to 24 m. The lower part of the trunk develops somewhat steep buttress roots. The leaves are bipinnate compound with 20 to 35 pairs of leaflets. The leaves resemble those of the "mimosa" tree. It sheds its leaves during the short dry season. Pear-shaped capitula hang down from the leaf axils, blooming with small, brownish-yellow flowers. After flowering, it produces pods on long stipes. The pods are quite twisted, with the area around each of the 12 to 18 seeds noticeably swollen. The seeds have a strong odor similar to onions or garlic. Unripe seeds are eaten raw or cooked, such as stir-fried with curry paste, shrimp, or pork. It is cultivated in Southeast Asia.
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