Volume 4 > Part 1 > Year 1984 > Page 124 > Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae > Tamarindus

Tamarindus indica L.wfo-0000170926

Sp. Pl. 1: 34. 1753; Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Br. lnd. 2: 273. 1878.; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 636. 1922; Craib in Fl. Siam. En. 1: 533. 1928; K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen in Fl. C.L.V. 18: 145. 1980. Fig. 31: 10–12.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Tree up to 20 m high, rarely more; young twigs pubescent later glabrous. Leaves parlpinnate, with 10–18 pairs of small leaflets. Petioles and rhachis 5–12cm long, pubescent to glabrous. Stipules minute, caducous. Petiolules glabrous or pubescent. Leaflets glabrous, oblong-linear, unequal, at base rounded, at apex mucronatc, 8–30 by 3–9 mm. Racemes terminal, 2–6 cm with a ± puberulous axis. Bracts ovate-oblong caducous, 5 by 3 mm. Pedicels puberulous to glabrescent, up to 10 mm; bracteoles similar to the bracts, densely ciliate, pubescent on lower surface, glabrous on upper. Receptacle narrowly turbinate, 4–4.5 mm long. Sepals 4, oblong-elliptic, imbricate, yellowish, glabrous but hairy at base, 12 by 5 mm. Petals 3, unequal, yellowish-orange; upper petal oblong-cordate, 10–12 by 2–3 mm; 2 lateral ones, obovate-oblong, narrowed towards the hairy base, 12–13 mm long, 5–6 mm broad. Perfect stamens 3, connate to an open staminal tube, filaments short; tube plus filaments 12–15 mm long; anthers oblong. Ovary ± pubescent, linear. 7 mm long on an equally long stipe; style rather thick, 7 mm long, pubescent; stigma terminal, truncate, subcapitate. Pods oblong, incurved, thick, light brown, indehiscent, 5–15 by 1–2.5 cm; mesocarp pulpy, acid. Seeds compressed, obovate-orbicular, varying in shape, ca 1 cm long, glossy, dark brown.

Thailand : Cultivated all over the country.

Distribution : Perhaps native to tropical Africa. Type from India. Cultivated all over the, tropics for the edible fruits.

Vernacular : Makham (มะขาม); mak-kaeng (มักแกง)(Shan-Northem), ta-lup (ตะลูบ)(Chaobon-Eastern); mot-le (มอดแล), sa-mo-kle (ล่ามอเกล)(Karen-Northern); mong-khlong (ม่องโคล้ง)(Karen-Southwestern); am-pial (อำเปียล)(Khmer-Eastern).

Uses: Wood use for chopping blocks; charcoal for smelting gold. Fruits pulp used in culinary puypose; seeds as wormiclde.