Terminalia catappa L.
ബദാo


Family: COMBRETACEAE
Sub-Family: Not available
English Name: Indian Almond Tree
Synonym: Terminalia badamia DC.
Common Name: Java almond
Flowering & Fruiting Period: March – January
Distribution: Malaysia to North Australia, commonly planted in the tropics
Habitat: Grown as ornamental tree
Uses: Nut edible, ayurvedic. The fruit is helpful in the treatment of Leprosy, headache and reduces nausea. It cures sexual dysfunction particularly in men like premature ejaculation and hypersexuality.
Key Characteristics: Terminalia catappa are trees often buttressed; bark brownish to grey. Leaves simple, alternate, densely clustered at the tip of branchlets; lamina obovate, margin entire. Flowers polygamous, white or yellowish-green, in axillary simple; calyx tube, pubescent, expanded portion cupular, teeth 5, triangular or ovate; petals absent; stamens 10; anthers oblong; ovary inferior, 1-celled, ovule pendulous. Fruits a drupe, broadly ellipsoid to ovoid, laterally compressed, inflated, brown or reddish-brown, glabrous, glossy.