Terminalia catappa

The tree grows to {{convert|35|m|ft|abbr=off}} tall, with an upright, symmetrical crown and horizontal branches. 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 and ovoid, {{cvt|15|-|25|cm|abbr=off|frac=4|in}} long and {{cvt|10|-|14|cm|frac=4|in}} broad; they have a glossy and leathery dark green surface like paper.{{cite journal |last=Exell |first=A.W. |date=May 1954 |title=Combretaceae |url=https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/532636/ |journal=Flora Malesiana |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=566–568}} They fall during the dry season; they turn pinkish-reddish or yellow-brown, due to pigments such as violaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The trees are monoecious, with distinct small male and female flowers on the same tree. Both are produced on axillary or terminal spikes, they are {{cvt|1|cm|in|frac=8}} in diameter, white to greenish, and inconspicuous with no petals. Pollen grains measure about 30 microns.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The fruit is a drupe {{cvt|5|-|7|cm|frac=8|in}} long and {{cvt|3|-|5.5|cm|frac=8|in}} broad containing a single seed; it is green at first, then yellows and finally turns to red when ripe. The entire fruit is corky and light so it can be dispersed by water, but it can also be spread by bats that eat them. When the seed germinates, it unfolds the largest pair of foliar (leafy) cotyledons of any plant, up to {{cvt|8.5|cm}} wide by up to {{cvt|3.5|cm}} long.Dr. D. Burger Hzn "Seedlings of species of Some Tropical Trees and Shrubs Mainly of Southern Asia, Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation (1972) page 75

The tree has been spread widely by humans, so 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. Until the mid-20th century, the tree had been used extensively in Brazilian urban landscaping, since being a rare case tropical deciduous, their fallen leaves would give a "European" flair to the street. This practice is currently abolished, and the "amendoeiras" are being replaced by native, evergreen trees.

T. 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,{{cite book|last1=Hargreaves|first1=Dorothy|last2=Hargreaves|first2=Bob|title=Tropical Trees of Hawaii|url=https://archive.org/details/tropicaltreesofh00doro_0|url-access=registration|year=1964|publisher=Hargreaves|location=Kailua, Hawaii|page=[https://archive.org/details/tropicaltreesofh00doro_0/page/31 31]|isbn=9780910690027 }} tasting slightly acidic. When ripe, the seeds are edible raw or cooked{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/277203364 |title=The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |others=United States Department of the Army |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60239-692-0 |location=New York |pages=106 |language=en-US |oclc=277203364}} and are the source of its 'almond' common names, but are small and difficult to extract.

The wood is red and solid, and has high water resistance; it has been used in Polynesia for making canoes. In Tamil, almond is known as nattuvadumai.

The leaves contain several flavonoids (such as kaempferol or quercetin), several tannins (such as punicalin, punicalagin or tercatin), saponines and phytosterols. Due to this chemical richness, the leaves (and the bark) are used in different herbal medicines for various purposes. For instance in Taiwan, fallen leaves are used as an herb to treat liver diseases. In Suriname, an herbal tea made from the leaves has been prescribed against dysentery and diarrhea. The leaves may contain agents for prevention of cancers (although they have no demonstrated anticarcinogenic properties) and antioxidants, as well as anticlastogenic characteristics. Extracts of {{nobr|T. catappa}} have shown activity against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ)-resistant (FcB1) and CQ-sensitive (HB3) strains.Hnawia E, Hassani L, Deharo E, Maurel S, Waikedre J, Cabalion P, Bourdy G, Valentin A, Jullian V, Fogliani B. "Antiplasmodial activity of New Caledonia and Vanuatu traditional medicines". Pharm Biol. 2011 Apr; 49(4): 369-76.

Keeping the leaves in an aquarium may lower the pH and heavy-metal content of the water.{{citation needed|date=August 2008}} It has been used in this way by fish breeders for many years, and is active against some parasites and bacterial pathogens.{{cite journal |url=http://www.actahort.org/books/678/678_25.htm |title=Antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities derived from a Terminalia catappa solution against some Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pathogens |author1=C. Chitmanat |author2=K. Tongdonmuan |author3=P. Khanom |author4=P. Pachontis |author5=W. Nunsong |name-list-style=amp |journal=Acta Horticulturae |volume=678 |pages=179–182 |year=2005|issue=678 |doi=10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.678.25 }} It is also believed to help prevent fungus forming on the eggs of the fish.{{citation needed|date=August 2008}} While common in hobby fishkeeping, this use of catappa leaves is not employed in commercial aquaculture.

File:A Hoverfly on a Desi Badam (Terminalia catappa) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 0494.jpg|Inflorescence

File:Almendro (Terminalia catappa) (14787612664).jpg|Foliage and immature inflorescences

File:Terminalia catappa fruits at various stages of ripeness-1.JPG|Fruits at various stages of ripeness: one cut open to reveal the edible kernel within the hard endocarp, and another partially opened to reveal the fleshy mesocarp surrounding the fibrous inner layers

File:Starr 080604-6222 Terminalia catappa.jpg|Tree canopy on Sand Island, Midway Atoll

File:欖仁樹 Terminalia catappa 20210121125731 01.jpg|In winter

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Terminalia catappa}}
• [http://www.indianalmondleaves.com Indian almond leaves]- Website devoted to Indian almond leaves in folk medicine, modern medicine and aquariums
• [http://localfishshop.blogspot.com/2010/02/ketapang-leaves-most-of-tropical-fishes.html More Ketapang Info]- Blog on ketapang leaves

{{WestAfricanPlants|Terminalia catappa}}

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catappa

Category:Flora of Madagascar

Category:Flora of Seychelles

Category:Flora of tropical Asia

Category:Flora of China

Category:Flora of Taiwan

Category:Flora of the Southwestern Pacific

Category:Flora of Queensland

Category:Flora of the Northern Territory

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Category:Austronesian agriculture