Common Name: Indian almond, Malabar almond. Tamil Name: Nattuvadumai.
Malabar almond is a large tree which can grow to over 30 meters in height; the horizontal branching pattern of this tree is unique. The leaves are bunched at branch ends, the leaves are glossy green with a leathery finish. The tree is deciduous and the leafs become red in color before they fall off. This giant tree is deployed mostly as an avenue tree in India. The simple leaves are arranged in an alternate manner; the leaf stalk is rusty and measure around 1.2 cm; the leaf measurers around 23 cm in length and 13.5 cm across. The leaf shape is obovate; the base is cuneate; the apex is rounded and the tip is acuminate. Two leaf glands are present at the base of the leaf lamella. The inflorescence is in the form of an axillary raceme which can measure around 15 cm. The flower stalk measure around 5 mm; the flower across measures around 8-9 mm; five parted flower is cream colored. The flower has 10 stamens arranged in two rows and a single style. The fruit is an ellipsoid drupe which is initially green in color, it turns red when ripe. The fruit encloses a single hard seed. Malabar almond is the larval host plant for Large oakblue, Dingy lineblue, Common red flash, Long banded silverline and Red spot butterflies. The seeds inside the kernel are eaten by children- they taste like badam.
