Java almond, Coastal almond
Terminalia catappa

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A large tree up to 25-40 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The trunk can be straight or twisted. There can be buttresses up to 3 m tall. The branches lie horizontally and come out in layers. The leaves are long, smooth and shiny with an abrupt point at the tip and a rounded base. Leaves tend to be near the ends of branches. Leaves can be 17-29 cm long and 10-15 cm wide. Young leaves have soft hairs. The leaves turn red and fall off twice a year. Flowers are greenish white and in a spike at the end of the branches. The lower flowers on a spike are female, then the others are male. The fruit is about 6 cm long by 3-4 cm wide, thick and flattened with a flange around the edge. The fruit are green and turn red when ripe. The pulp is edible.

There are about 200-250 Terminalia species. They are tropical. The kernel is 55% oil.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. This tree occurs on the beach front in most tropical countries in the world. They are sometimes cultivated as a shade tree. The tree is common in lowland areas particularly on sandy or rocky beaches. Seeds are spread by both bats and sea water as well as being planted by people. Trees are common along streets in coastal towns. It is highly salt tolerant, They will grow from sea level up to about 800 m altitude. In Papua New Guinea it is mostly below 300 m altitude. It can grow with a soil pH of 4.0-8.5. Plants are frost tender. They can tolerate drought. It grows in areas with a temperature range of 17-32°C. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bougainville, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Caroline Islands, Cayman Islands, Central Africa, Central America, China, Christmas Island, Chuuk, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosrae, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Polynesia, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Society Islands, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Torres Strait, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Yap

How it is used for food

The kernels of the fruit are eaten raw. They are also roasted. They can be chopped and added to cooking mixes. An edible oil can also be extracted. It is used in cooking. The fruit have a thin layer of edible flesh. The mature fruit are fermented into wine.

In coastal areas of Papua New Guinea trees are common and the nuts are popular. The nuts are especially eaten by children. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Kernel, nuts, nuts-oil, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seeds can be stored dry for a year or more. Seeds germinate freely and most seeds grow. Insects can badly damage the leaves of young seedlings.

It is fast growing. Nut production is seasonal.

Its other names

Local names

Aas, Aasaas, Amiaka, 'aua, Adamarram, Ai-kalesi, Alita, Alite, Almendro, Almendro de las indias, Amandel, Amans, Antafana, Arete, Arite, Arjun, As, Asas, Autera'a, Badam, Badamier, Badan, Badamuchettu, Banda, Bang, Bangla-badam, Beydaan, Catappa, Chambak barang, Cham bak baraing, Coastal almond, Dalisai, Demerara, Deshi badam, Deshibadam, Dipwoapw, Fetau, Gil, Gobu gas, Gul, Grahadruma, Harman, Hu-kwang, Indian-almond, Janglibadam, Kadoru, Kal, Kalihu, Kalisai, Kamani haole, Kamani, Kariking, Kasas, Kathbadam, Kauariki, Kauriki, Kel, Ker, Ketapang, Koa'i'i, Kodal, Kotal, Kotamba, Kotang, Kotol, Kottai, Kungu, Kunikuni, Lenga, Lingtak, Loz-hindi, Madame, Madhu gas, Mai'i, Malabar almond, Meke, Merkai, Midhili, Miich, Mkungu, Myrobalan, Naklise, Natapoa, Nativi, Natvadom, Nyia nyingaa, Oko, Otochel, Salisa, Sea almond, Selie, Sif, Srifacf, Ta pang, Tafoa, Talasai, Talia suka, Talie, Talima, Talisai, Talisai, Talisay, Talise, Talisi, Tamanu, Tangie, Taraire, Tatalise, Talisai, Tavoa, Tavola lato, Tavola, Tavola tivi, Te kunikun, Telie, Telis, Tepop, Tipop, Towo, Tropical almond, Vedam, White bombway, Yalisai, Zamann

Synonyms

Badamia commersonii Gaertn.; Buceras catappa (L.) Hitchc.; Catappa domestica Rumph.; Juglans catappa (L.) Lour.; Myrobalanus catappa Kuntze; Myrobalanus terminalia Poir.; Phytolacca javanica Osbeck; ? Terminalia badamia sensu Tul.; Terminalia badamia DC.; Terminalia catappa var. chlorocarpa Hassk.; Terminalia catappa var. macrocarpa Hassk.; Terminalia catappa var. rhodocarpa Hassk.; Terminalia catappa var. subcordata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) DC.; Terminalia intermedia Bertero ex Spreng.; Terminalia latifolia Blanco; Terminalia mauritiana (non Lamk.) Blanco; Terminalia moluccana Lamk.; Terminalia myrobalana Roth; Terminalia ovatifolia Noronh.; Terminalia paraensis Mart.; Terminalia procera Roxb.; Terminalia rubrigemmis Tul.; Terminalia subcordata Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.;