Indian-almond (Terminalia catappa, Mant. Pl.: 128 (1767))

Family: Combretaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Mant. Pl.: 128 (1767)

Year: 1767

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Terminalia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Comoros, Madagascar, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to Pacific, N. Australia

Description

The Indian-almond, scientifically known as Terminalia catappa, is a tree species belonging to the Combretaceae family. Originally chronicled in 1767, this robust and versatile plant can be found across a diverse range including the Comoros, Madagascar, tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, extending to the Pacific Islands, and northern Australia.

Distinguished by its wide, spreading canopy, Terminalia catappa is often celebrated for its aesthetic appeal and utility in urban landscaping. The tree typically grows to impressive heights, with a broad, symmetrical crown that provides excellent shade, making it a favorite along streets and in gardens.

The foliage of the Indian-almond is another notable feature, with large, glossy leaves that turn vibrant shades of red and yellow before shedding, creating a spectacular display of seasonal color. The tree produces small, inconspicuous flowers that give way to the almond-like fruits. These fruits are edible, containing a kernel that is often consumed and enjoyed for its slightly nutty flavor.

Beyond its ornamental use and edible fruits, Terminalia catappa has been utilized in traditional medicine. Various parts of the tree, including the leaves, bark, and seeds, have been used to treat ailments such as digestive disorders and skin diseases, underscoring its significance in ethnobotany.

Additionally, the Indian-almond tree is instrumental in coastal protection and stabilization. Its extensive root system helps prevent soil erosion along shorelines, contributing to environmental conservation efforts in coastal regions.

In summary, Terminalia catappa, or the Indian-almond, is a multifaceted tree species renowned for its striking appearance, beneficial fruits, medicinal properties, and environmental significance. Found in various tropical and subtropical locations, this tree continues to be an important asset in both urban and natural ecosystems.

Common Names

Spa: almendra, almendro, almendro de la india
Eng: india almond, indian almond, indian-almond, malabar-almond, tropical almond, country-almond, false kamani, sea-almond
Deu: indischer mandelbaum, katappenbaum
Msa: ketapang
Por: amendoeira-da-praia, amendoeira-da-índia, castanha-da-praia, castanhola, chapéu-de-sol, guarda-sol, sombreiro
Fra: badamier
En: Indian-almond, Country-almond, Tropical-almond, Malabar-almond, Sea-almond, Tropical almond, Keutapang, India almond, Indian almond, False kamani, Almond Tree, Beach Almond, Alman Tree, Almond, West Indian almond, Badam, Bastard Almond, Kamani, Myrobalan, Troipical almond, Singapore almond
Ar: هليلج هندي
Az: Hind badamı
Bn: কাঠ বাদাম
My: ဗာဒံပင်
Ca: Ametller de l’Índia
Zh: 榄仁树, 欖仁
Cs: Mandlovník mořský
Dv: ކަނަމަދު
Nl: Ketapang, Wilde amandel
Fj: Tavola
Fi: Manteliketapani
Fr: Badamier, Amandier pays, Myrobalanier, Gros badamier
De: Katappenbaum, Indischer Mandelbaum
Ht: Zanmann
Id: Ketapang
Jv: Ketapang
Kn: ಇಂಗುದಿ
Ln: Lídamɛ
Ms: Pokok Ketapang, Ketapang
Ml: തല്ലിമരം
Mr: मलबार आलमंड
Ne: जंगली रूखबदाम
Fa: درخت لوز
Pl: Migdałecznik właściwy
Pt: Amendoeira-da-Índia, Amendoeira-da-India, Guarda-sol, Amendoeira-da-praia, Sombreiro, Chapéu-de-sol, Castanha da praia, Castanhola, Castanha-da-praia
Pt-br: Amendoeira, Chapéu-de-sol
Ru: Индийский миндаль
Si: කොට්ටම්බා
So: Beydaan
Es: Almendro de la India, Mirobalanovec, Almendra, Almendro
Su: Katapang
Sw: Kungu
Sv: Tropisk mandel
Tl: Talisay
Ty: Autaraa
Zh-tw: 欖仁
Th: หูกวาง
To: Telie
Zh-hant: 欖仁樹
Vi: Bàng
Wo: Gerte tubaab

Synonyms

• Phytolacca javanica (Osbeck)
• Terminalia catappa var. pubescens (Kurz)
• Myrobalanus catappa ((L.) Kuntze)
• Myrobalanus commersonii (Kuntze)
• Terminalia catappa var. rhodocarpa (Hassk.)
• Terminalia catappa var. chlorocarpa (Hassk.)
• Buceras catappa ((L.) Hitchc.)
• Terminalia catappa var. subcordata ((Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) DC.)
• Terminalia paraensis (Mart.)
• Myrobalanus rubrigemmis ((Tul.) Kuntze)
• Terminalia rubrigemmis (Tul.)
• Juglans catappa ((L.) Lour.)
• Terminalia latifolia (Blanco)
• Terminalia moluccana (Lam.)
• Terminalia intermedia (Bertero ex Spreng.)
• Terminalia kydiana (Roxb. ex Wall.)
• Terminalia mauritiana (Blanco)
• Terminalia catappa var. macrocarpa (Hassk.)
• Terminalia burmanica (King ex Prain)
• Terminalia ovatifolia (Noronha)
• Terminalia subcordata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.)

Distribution

• Andaman Is. (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Caroline Is. (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Christmas I. (native)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (native)
• Comoros (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Fiji (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kazan-retto (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maldives (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Marianas (native)
• Marshall Is. (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nauru (native)
• New Caledonia (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Niue (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Samoa (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tonga (native)
• Vanuatu (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (native)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central American Pac (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Mozambique Channel I (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Wake I. (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Jun 13, 2021 by Marzanna Bug (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2022 by Cristina Garcia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 10, 2012 by Endemia – Benoît Henry (cc-by-nc)

Taken Mar 5, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 26, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Mar 28, 2019 by Pandolfo Flavio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2019 by Marie Boukinda (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 14, 2022 by Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2019 by Laure Willhelm (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2021 by Isabelle Gueriot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 20, 2021 by monojit Choudhury (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2021 by Gary Sadavage (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 1, 2003 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)

Taken Feb 24, 2016 by EOL − Zoya Akulova (cc-by-nc)

Taken Nov 23, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Feb 27, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 14, 2020 by Dácio Dácio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2022 by louiise (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2020 by Marwan Ghajar (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 11, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 2, 2006 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2021 by Theophile Amedjrana (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3189394)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:171034-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Terminalia catappa L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 6.0