Terminalia catappa

Terminalia catappa

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Kingdom      : Plantae
Division     : Angiospermae
Class        : Dicotyledonae
Order        : Myrtales
Family       : Combretaceae
Genus        : Terminalia
Species      : catappa

Common Name:

Indian Almond, Ketapag

General Information:

Terminalia catappa is a medium to large deciduous tropical tree that grows to 75-90′ tall (often lower in cultivation) with a spreading crown featuring horizontal branching in tiers. It is primarily native to maritime areas of Asia, Polynesia and northern Australia, but is now grown in a number of additional tropical to subtropical areas around the world. Mature trees often present a handsome ornamental appearance. Trees feature (a) short, straight trunks (single or multiple) with dark scaly bark topped by horizontal branching, (b) leathery, broad-ovate, lustrous, dark green leaves which are spirally arranged in rosette-like clusters at the branch tips, (c) apetalous greenish-white flowers in axillary spikes, and (d) dry, egg-shaped, broad-ovate, one-seeded fruits with edible seed kernels which taste like almonds.

Flowers bloom throughout the year, but more heavily in spring. Each flower spike (to 6″ long) has male flowers near the tip and bisexual flowers near the base. Each flower has a tiny 5-lobed calyx with 10 stamens and 1 style. In some climates, leaf drop will occur two times per year (hence the designation of deciduous), but new leaves emerge quickly after old leaves drop (often only several days later). Leaves (6-12″ long) turn an attractive red before dropping. Two-winged fruits (to 2″ long) emerge green, then turn yellow before finally maturing to red. Inside the hard fibrous shell of each fruit is an edible, tasty, almond-like nut which resembles an almond in flavor, hence the common names of tropical almond or Indian almond for this tree. Commercial growth of this tree for nut production is minimal at this time in large part because of the small size of the nut kernels and the extraction difficulties.

Economic Importance:

  • The oil from the seed is used for making soap, but its industrial use is limited by the difficulty in extracting the kernel.
  • Various parts of the tree, such as the leaves and fruit, contain tannins and are astringent.
  • The trunk is a source of yellow and black dye.
  • Trees are a commercial source of timber and edible nuts.