Indian Almond: Description and its uses

                                Indian Almond/ Badam

Indian almond is a large tropical tree. It can reach a height of 35 meters (110 ft). It grows upright and forms a symmetrical crown with horizontal branches. Almond tree leaves are quite big, usually 15 to 25 centimetres long and 10 to 15 centimetres broad (6-10 inches long and 4-5.5 inches broad). They are thick and leathery with a glossy dark green colour. The male and female flowers both are found on the same plant at the same time. Both flowers are roughly 1 centimetre (0.4 in) in diameter and quite inconspicuous. The colour varies from white to pale green. Almond tree fruit is edible and is about 5-7 cm (2-3 in) long and 3-6 cm (1.2 -2.4 in).

Botanical name: Terminalia catappa

Family : Combretaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 45 m

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: Yellow, Orange

Temperature: 16-35 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to growth


Uses:

The fruit is edible. The oil is extracted from the friuit.The leafs have been used traditionally to sickle cell anemia and boost liver function. Additionally, the oil from the leaves treat skin problems. The seeds are believed to treat liver cancer and act as an aphrodisiac.