Terminalia catappa

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Terminalia catappa

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Combretaceae
Genus:	Terminalia
Species:	T. catappa
Binomial name
*Terminalia catappa* L.

Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the Leadwood tree family, 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).

leaves before falling in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

It grows to 35 metres (115 ft) tall, with an upright, symmetrical crown and horizontal branches. The Terminalia catappa has corky, light fruit that is dispersed by water. The nut within the fruit is edible when fully ripe,tasting almost like almond. As the tree gets older, its crown becomes more flattened to form a spreading, vase shape. Its branches are distinctively arranged in tiers. The leaves are large, 15–25 centimetres (5.9–9.8 in) long and 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.

branches with new leaves and flower spikes in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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

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. It's also believed that it helps prevent fungus forming on the eggs of the fish.^{[citation needed]}. Local hobbyists also use it for conditioning the betta's water for breeding and hardening of the scales^{[citation needed]}.

Gallery

in Hyderabad, India.	in Hyderabad, India.	in Hyderabad, India.	in Hyderabad, India.
in Hyderabad, India.	in Hyderabad, India.	trunk in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	old trunk in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	fallen leaf in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	fallen leaf (back side) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
branches with new leaves & flower spikes in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Ketapang Leaves from Singapore	Ketapang Leaves from Singapore	Ketapang Green Leaves from Singapore, Before Falling To The Ground
Ketapang Trees from Singapore, Next To Road and HDB Flats