Tamarindus indica Seeds
Sweet Tamarind, Indian Date Tree
Tamarind, Tamarindus indica, is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, having only a single species. Tamarindus indica is indigenous to tropical Africa, particularly where it continues to grow wild in Sudan; it is also cultivated in Cameroon, Nigeria and Tanzania. The tamarind is a long-lived, medium-growth bushy tree which attains a maximum crown height of 12.1 to 18.3 meters. The crown has an irregular vase-shaped outline of dense foliage. The tree grows well in full sun in clay, loam, sandy and acidic soil types, with a high drought and wind-borne salt resistance. Leaves are evergreen, bright green in colour and less than 5 cm in length. The branches droop from a single, central trunk as the tree matures and is often pruned in human agriculture to optimize tree density and ease of fruit harvest. At night, the leaflets close up. The tamarind does flower, though inconspicuously, with red and yellow elongated flowers. Flowers are 2.5 cm wide five-petalled borne in small racemes, yellow with orange or red streaks. Buds are pink as the 4 sepals are pink and are lost when the flower blooms. The fruit is an indehiscent legume, sometimes called a pod, 12 to 15 cm in length with a hard, brown shell. The fruit has a fleshy, juicy, acidulous pulp. It is mature when the flesh is coloured brown or reddish-brown. The tamarinds of Asia have longer pods containing 612 seeds, whereas African and West Indian varieties have short pods containing 16 seeds. The seeds are somewhat flattened and glossy brown. The tamarind is best described as sweet and sour in taste, and high in acid, sugar, vitamin B and, interestingly for a fruit, calcium. As a tropical species, it is somewhat frost sensitive. Mature trees are somewhat cold hardy and can withstand -5°C without protection but very young trees should be protected from cold. The pinnate leaves with opposite leaflets giving a billowing effect in the wind. Tamarind timber consists of hard, dark red heartwood and softer, yellowish sapwood. Tamarind is harvested by pulling the pod from its stalk. A mature tree may be capable of producing up to 175 kg of fruit per annum. The tamarind makes an excellent shade tree in medium - large landscapes and is well suited to the art of bonsai.
