Sea Almond (HT 2017 290)

Reference ID
HT 2017-290

Scientific name: Terminalia catappa
Family name: Combretaceae
Girth: 3.94 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 23.4 m

Location
Singapore Botanic Gardens,
Ethno-botany Garden

The Sea Almond is a tree commonly found along the coasts of tropical Asia, Northern Australia and Polynesia, including Singapore. It can also be found growing inland along roads or in old Malayan villages where it was planted for its spreading crown, providing much needed relief from the tropical sun.

It can grow up to 35 m tall and has a characteristic pagoda shape, a result of the whorls of horizontal wide-spreading branches growing at regular intervals along the trunk.

This deciduous tree sheds its leaves twice a year in South East Asia and its leaves turn a vivid red or, in some cases, yellow before they fall. Leaves are simple, large, oval and narrow to a heart-shaped base. The dried leaves contain tannins that are said to have antibacterial and antifungal effects and are favoured by aquarium enthusiasts to condition the water for tropical fish. The small flowers emit a foetid smell and are grouped along a short flowering stalk with separate male and female flowers.

Fruit are fibrous and oval in shape, turning yellow to pinkish yellow with maturity. The fruit has a corky rind and tiny air-cavities that allow them to float on water to new shores where they might germinate. The pulp of the fruit is sweet and the kernel has a delicate flavour, tasting like almonds, giving rise to its common name, Sea Almond. The fruit are also eaten by fruit bats which help in the seed dispersal.

The timber can be used for houses and boat building while various parts of the plant are used in folk medicine from relieving rheumatic joints to dysentery.

This Tree was estimated to be greater than 50 years of age and had a girth of 3.6 m when it was endorsed as a Heritage Tree in 2017.

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

Gallery

Heritage Tree with visitor for scale
(📷: Low Wei Teng)

View of Heritage Tree from Ethno-botany Centre (📷: Hazri Boey)