Indian almond
Terminalia catappa L.
Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) is a coastal tree with pagoda-like tiered branches and large leaves that turn red before falling; its seed kernel (“tropical almond”) is edible and the leaves and bark are medicinal.
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Indian almond — Trunk & barkIndian almond — Fruit & seedsIndian almond — Fruit & seedsOverview
A tree 15–25 m tall with a broad, tiered crown; leaves cluster at the branch tips, are obovate and 15–25 cm long, turning red before falling. Small greenish-white flowers form long spikes; the flattened drupe ripens with a thin wing and contains an edible seed.
The seed kernel is oily and edible, tasting like almond; the leaves and bark are rich in tannins and are used in Indian traditional medicine for skin complaints and diarrhoea. The reddish-brown wood is attractively figured and used for furniture and small boats.
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed
Winged fruits disperse by water and wind; kernels are extracted and sown in moist sand where they germinate quickly.
Sapling
Light-demanding saplings grow fast on coastal sand, their leaves enlarging over time.
Mature tree
Trees 15–25 m with a characteristic tiered crown provide deep shade.
Red leaves · fruiting
In the dry season leaves turn red and fall; winged fruits ripen and disperse.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Indian Ocean · South Asia26%
- Southeast Asia24%
- Vietnam (coastal)20%
- Pacific16%
- Other plantings14%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Ellagic acidAntioxidant, astringent34%
- TanninsAstringent in leaves, bark32%
- Quercetin · flavonoidsAntioxidant20%
- Seed oilRich in fatty acids14%
Uses
- Coastal, park and street shade tree
- Edible seed kernel; timber for furniture and small boats
- Leaves and bark in traditional medicine
Properties
- Crown
- Tiered, pagoda-like
- Leaf
- Large, red before falling
- Seed
- Edible kernel
Habitat & conservation
Coastal sands, estuaries and well-drained tropical soils; tolerates salt wind and drought and is widely planted as a street shade tree.
Conservation
Not globally threatened (IUCN: Least Concern). Widely planted across the tropical coast with no significant concern.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Terminalia catappa — Kew Science, 2024
- 2IUCN Red List — Terminalia catappa — IUCN, 2019
- 3PROSEA — Timber trees: Terminalia — PROSEA, 1994
- 4Hình ảnh minh hoạ lấy từ Wikimedia Commons, tôn trọng giấy phép ghi kèm — Wikimedia Commons,
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Hans Hillewaert (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India (CC BY-SA 2.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 7Nguồn ảnh: Azogbonon (CC0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 8Nguồn ảnh: H. Zell (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 9Nguồn ảnh: Photo by David J. Stang (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,