Sea Almond

Common Name: Sea Almond, Ketapang, Indian Almond, Tropical Almond Tree, Lingtak, Bastard Almond, Singapore Almond, Telisai, Jelawai Ketapang, Pacific Almond
Scientific Name: Terminalia catappa
Family: Combretaceae
Origin: India to Pacific

General Facts:

• One of the most commonly found trees in the region
• Often cultivated as a wayside tree (shade)
• Naturally found on sandy shores
• Seeds – dispersed by water (layer of corky fibres on fruits allow them to float)
• Native to Singapore

Food/medical facts:

• Fruits are edible – taste like almonds
• Can be eaten raw
• Oil extracted from the dried nuts is edible and used in cooking (South America)
• Has many traditional medicinal uses, from the leaves to the bark to the fruits. It can treat:
1. high blood pressure
2. fever
3. dysentery

Animal Facts:

• Fruit bats are known to eat the husk of the fruit

How to recognize:

• Characteristic pagoda shape
• During the dry season, leaves turn red, copper and gold
• Usually sheds its leaves twice a year (Jan-Feb & Jul - Aug)