BADAM TREE
Family-
Combretaceae
Scientific
name - Terminalia catappa
COMMON NAMES –
1) Indian almond, Malabar almond or Bengal
almond in English.
2) Deshi badam in Hindi.
3) Bangla badam in Bengali.
4) Badamuchetti in Tamil.
GROWING AREAS:
1) This tree originally came from the islands
off the coast of Malaysia and the sandy coast of Malaysia itself.
2) But is now widely grown in India.
3) It likes a sandy soil and tropical climate.
4) It can grow well close to the sea.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
1) It is a fairly fast growing, tall,
semi-deciduous tree.
2) It has smooth grey bark.
3) It is easy to recognize as the branches
grow in layers almost at right angles to the trunk and start fairly high up.
4) The tree requires quite a lot of space, as
its branches spread a long way outwards.
5) You should not confuse this tree with the
true almond which is a member of the rose family.
Leaves, flowers, fruits and uses of the
Badam:
LEAVES OF THE BADAM:
1) The large leaves are rough and leathery.
2) Once or twice a year they turn bright red
and fall.
3) The new leaves that grow are a bright green
but darken quickly when older.
4) They are often eaten when young by beetles
and grasshoppers and so the young trees have to be looked after carefully.
FLOWERS OF THE BADAM:
1) Small greenish-white flowers which grow in
spikes at the end of the smaller stems or branchlets.
2) They usually appear in March and April and
again in July and August.
FRUITS OF THE BADAM:
1) The oval nut cases contain a nut.
2) The nuts are similar in taste to an almond.
USES OF THE BADAM:
1) In Malaysia this tree is often planted
around monasteries and in gardens.
2) In India it is also grown for its beauty.
3) If the nut is crushed, it produces an oil
very similar to almond oil. 4) The nuts are also considered to be good food for
pigs.
5) The wood from this tree is used for house
building.
6) The tasar silk worms who weave their cocoons of silk thread from which is then woven tasar silk love to eat the leaves of the Badam.
7) The trees are therefore often planted near silk farms to
feed the caterpillars.
