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Terminalia catappa in NSYSU
Made by 彭翊誠
SERVICES
Terminalia catappa
Scientific name:Terminalia catappa
Chinese common name(s):欖仁樹
Family :使君子科 Combretaceae
Morphology of the plant: The Indian almond tree is a deciduous tree that can reach heights of 15 meters or more. Its flowering period is from March to July, and its fruiting period is from July to September. The branches spread horizontally, with lateral branches growing in whorls. After shedding its leaves, the tree has dense and noticeable leaf scars. The simple leaves are alternately arranged, obovate in shape, leathery, with entire margins and a prominent main vein. The leaves turn red in autumn and fall off in winter. The flowers form in spike-like inflorescences and the plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are mostly green or white. The fruit is a drupe, oval in shape.
OUR WORK
Adapt to an aquatic environment: Indian almond tree has root structures that can adapt to water. Its buttress roots are capable of withstanding waterlogging, and its trunk and leaves also possess a certain degree of water tolerance. Even when growing in water, the trunk and leaves can maintain normal metabolism and function.
Distributions :Native to Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and the Pacific Islands, the Indian almond tree is also found in various regions of mainland China, including Hainan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Hubei, and southeastern Yunnan. Additionally, it is distributed in Vietnam, Oceania, and the tropical coasts of South America.
Ecology: habitat, pollination, and dispersal :
grows in coastal areas, with fruit resembling miniature rugby balls. When the fruit is peeled open, a thick white pulp is revealed, containing a lot of fibers. These fibers enable the fruit to float on the sea surface. The fruit can drift with ocean currents, dispersing the seeds to various locations. This method helps the Indian almond tree to widely propagate and spread in coastal regions.
Others:
The seeds are rich in oil and can be cooked, with a fairly good taste. The Indian almond tree blooms in the summer and can be propagated by seeding. It is said that the leaves of the Indian almond tree can be used medicinally. They must be naturally fallen and dried to treat liver diseases.
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