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Tree with a tang
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Tamarind is multipurpose and good for avenues
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USEFUL TREE Tamarindus indica
Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali - imli, Tamil, Malayalam - puli, Telugu - chintapandu. Family: Caesalpiniaideae.
Handsome tree with dome-shade, it can reach a height of 30m. Name derived from Arabic - `tama - Hindi' which means date of India because its thick pulp resembles preserved dates. However it is a native of Africa, common throughout the tropics, and introduced to India in ancient times. Bark dark grey and fissured, feathery leaves 5-15 cm, 10-20 pairs of leaflets, opposite, without the terminal leaflet. Flowering from May to June - with 10-cm long clusters of pale yellow blossoms, variegated with red stocks and fine stamens. Pod is thick long 2.5 cm thick, curved, green when on, repining filed with dark brown acidic pulp, traversed with fibres. Seeds are hard, brown and shining. The pulp from seeds issued to season curries, chutney, sauces (tender leaves are also used in curries - chutneys).
New leaves appear in March-April. When young, they have a brilliant emerald hue. Being feathery they give the tree a graceful appearance. Tender leaves are made into chutneys. Flowers in May and bears fruit in April. Its strong supple branches are resistant to strong winds. So they are suitable for avenues, and a valuable timber.
Its pleasant, acidic testing fruit was so popular that the plant's botanical and common names both point to its association with India.
Tamarind has many medicinal values. The pulp mixed with honey and limejuice is a cure for nausea, vomiting and also helps in digestion. The leaves boiled or heated and used on swellings and sprains give relief. Tamarind is used in many ayurvedic medicines.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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