Flowering and fruiting: March – January

Distribution: Malaysia to North Australia and Polynesia, commonly planted in the tropics

Habitat: Grown as ornamental tree

Uses: Nut edible, ayurvedic. The fruit is helpful in the treatment of Leprosy, headache and reduces nausea. It cures sexual dysfunction particularly in men like premature ejaculation and hypersexuality

Key Characters: Terminalia catappa are trees often buttressed; bark brownish to grey. Leaves simple, alternate, densely clustered at the tip of branchlets; lamina obovate, margin entire. Flowers polygamous, white or yellowish-green, in axillary simple; calyx tube, pubescent, expanded portion cupular, teeth 5, triangular or ovate; petals absent; stamens 10; anthers oblong; ovary inferior, 1-celled, ovule pendulous. Fruits a drupe, broadly ellipsoid to ovoid, laterally compressed, inflated, brown or reddish-brown, glabrous, glossy.