Tara spinosa

Tara spinosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Tara
Species:
T. spinosa
Binomial name
Tara spinosa
(Feuillée ex Molina) Britton & Rose
Synonyms
  • Caesalpinia pectinata Cav.
  • Caesalpinia spinosa (Feuillée ex Molina) Kuntze
  • Caesalpinia tara Ruiz & Pav.
  • Caesalpinia tinctoria Dombey ex DC.
  • Caesalpinia tinctoria (Kunth) Benth. ex Reiche
  • Coulteria tinctoria Kunth
  • Poinciana spinosa Feuillée ex Molina
  • Tara tinctoria Molina

Tara spinosa, commonly known as tara (Quechua), also known as Peruvian carob or spiny holdback, is a small leguminous tree or thorny shrub native to Peru. T. spinosa is cultivated as a source of tannins based on a galloylated quinic acid structure. This chemical structure has been confirmed also by LC–MS. It is also grown as an ornamental plant because of its large colorful flowers and pods.