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Terminalia catappa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the Leadwood tree family, Terminalia catappa
Combretaceae. The tree has been spread widely by humans and the native range
is uncertain. It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to
Northern Australia and New Guinea through Southeast Asia and Micronesia into
the Indian Subcontinent. More recently the plant has been introduced to parts of
the Americas. Common names include , Bengal almond, Singapore almond ,
Ebelebo, Malabar almond, Indian almond, Tropical almond, Sea almond,
Beach Almond, Talisay tree, Umbrella tree, Abrofo Nkatie (Akan) and
Zanmande (creole).
Scientific classification
It grows to 35 metres (115 ft) tall, with an Kingdom: Plantae
upright, symmetrical crown and horizontal Division: Magnoliophyta
branches. The Terminalia catappa has
Class: Magnoliopsida
corky, light fruit that is dispersed by
water. The nut within the fruit is edible Order: Myrtales
when fully ripe,tasting almost like almond. Family: Combretaceae
As the tree gets older, its crown becomes Genus: Terminalia
more flattened to form a spreading, vase Species: T. catappa
shape. Its branches are distinctively
leaves before falling in Kolkata, Binomial name
arranged in tiers. The leaves are large,
West Bengal, India. Terminalia catappa
15–25 centimetres (5.9–9.8 in) long and
L.
10–14 centimetres (3.9–5.5 in) broad,
ovoid, glossy dark green and leathery. They are dry-season deciduous; before
falling, they turn pinkish-reddish or yellow-brown, due to pigments such as violaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

The flowers are monoecious, with distinct male and female flowers on the same
tree. Both are 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter, white to greenish, inconspicuous
with no petals; they are produced on axillary or terminal spikes. The fruit is a
drupe 5–7 centimetres (2.0–2.8 in) long and 3–5.5 centimetres (1.2–2.2 in) broad,
green at first, then yellow and finally red when ripe, containing a single seed.

Cultivation and uses

branches with new leaves and
flower spikes in Kolkata, West
Bengal, India.
Terminalia catappa is widely grown in tropical regions of the world as an
ornamental tree, grown for the deep shade its large leaves provide. The fruit is
edible, tasting slightly acidic.
The wood is red, solid and has high water resistance; it has been utilized in
Polynesia for making canoes. In Telugu it is known as "Badam Chettu".

The leaves contain several flavonoids (like kaempferol or quercetin), several tannins (such as punicalin, punicalagin or
tercatin), saponines and phytosterols. Due to this chemical richness, the leaves (and also the bark) are used in different
traditional medicines for various purposes. For instances, in Taiwan fallen leaves are used as a herb to treat liver
diseases. In Suriname, a tea made from the leaves is prescribed against dysentery and diarrhea. It is also thought that the
leaves contain agents for prevention of cancers (although they have no demonstrated anticarcinogenic properties) and
antioxidant as well as anticlastogenic characteristics.

Keeping the leaves in an aquarium is said to lower the pH and heavy metal content of the water[citation needed]. It has
been utilized in this way by Betta breeders in Thailand for many years[citation needed] . Local hobbyists also use it for
conditioning the betta's water for breeding and hardening of the scales[citation needed] .

Gallery

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Terminalia catappa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_catappa

in Hyderabad, India. in Hyderabad, India. in Hyderabad, India. in Hyderabad, India.

trunk in Kolkata, West tree in Kolkata, West

in Hyderabad, India. in Hyderabad, India.
Bengal, India. Bengal, India.

fallen leaf (back side) in

tree in Kolkata, West old trunk in Kolkata, fallen leaf in Kolkata,
Kolkata, West Bengal,
Bengal, India. West Bengal, India. West Bengal, India.
India.

branches with new

Ketapang Green Leaves
leaves & flower spikes Ketapang Leaves from Ketapang Leaves from
from Singapore, Before
in Kolkata, West Singapore Singapore
Falling To The Ground
Bengal, India.

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Terminalia catappa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_catappa

Ketapang Trees from

Singapore, Next To
Road and HDB Flats

External links
Indian almond leaves and their use in aquariums
Indian almond leaves (http://www.indianalmondleaves.com) - Website devoted to Indian almond leaves in folk
medicine, modern medicine and aquariums.
More Ketapang Info (http://localfishshop.blogspot.com/2010/02/ketapang-leaves-most-of-tropical-fishes.html) -
Blog on Ketapang Leaves
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_catappa"
Categories: Terminalia | Flora of the Maldives | Flora of Nicaragua | Flora of Queensland | Myrtales of Australia |
Naturalized trees of Hawaii | Trees of Australia

This page was last modified on 5 May 2010 at 21:55.

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