Tamarind (HT 2001 28)

Reference ID
HT 2001-28

Scientific name: Tamarindus indica
Family name: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Girth: 3.56 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 17.8 m

Location
Surin Avenue
Neighbourhood Park

The Tamarind or Asam is a slow-growing and medium-sized tree that can reach 12 m to 30 m tall. It has beautiful fine-textured leaves and a round-shaped crown. It is native to Africa, and grows best in well-draining soil.

Tamarindus is monotypic, meaning that there is only one species in this genus (i.e. Tamarindus indica). The name of the genus Tamarindus is derived from the Arabic phrase at-tamr al-hindi, meaning ‘date of India’, which refers to its fruit. The specific epithet indica suggests its origins to be from India.

The Tamarind bears brown fruit pods containing several flat hard seeds enveloped by a juicy pulp. Red-breasted Parakeets (Psittacula alexandri) have been seen feeding on the fruit. The sweet-sour pulp is known as tamarind or asam. The species is widely cultivated for this pulp, which is used in Southeast Asian and Indian cuisine to impart tart flavours in curries and fish dishes. Tamarind is also an ingredient in another popular and famous food item, Worcestershire sauce. Sweet tamarind, which is produced by cultivated varieties of the tree from Thailand, can also be found in markets.

Mostly Chinese and Eurasian villagers occupied this part of Upper Serangoon in the early 1900s and many of them kept fruit tree plantations; this tree could be one of the fruit trees sown by villagers in their garden or plantation land. This Heritage Tree had a girth of 3.5m when measured in Year 2001.

For more information on this species, please refer to NParks Flora & Fauna Web profile here.

Gallery

📷: Brendon Phuah