Indian Almond
Umbrella Tree
Terminalia catappa
Tree growing on the grounds of a beach resort near Kitale, Kenya.
LEAVES: The leaves are large, rather tough-textured, shiny on the upper
surface, oblong. Before the leaves of this evergreen tree fall they turn a
bright orange-red.
TREE: Large heavy branches spread out nearly parallel to ground and with
dense foliage provide superb shade. The bark is scaly and reddish to dark
brown.
FLOWERS: The flowers are white with five points and arrayed in long,
drooping spikes.
RANGE: Naturally occurring along much of the Indian Ocean coast from
Australia through India and eastern Africa. As a shade tree tolerant of
slightly saline soils it has been cultivated in similar situations world wide.
FRUIT: The fruits are oval and slightly flattened resembling a large
almond. The spongy cortex allows them to float and thus be distributed to beach
habitats far and wide.
UNARMED.
Combretaceae -- Leadwood Family
