Common Name: Barbados nut. Tamil Name: Kattuamanakku
Barbados nut is a shrub native to Central America and grows to a height of about 3 meters. Often planted as an hedge plant in Tamilandu. The plant has a watery sap and the plant is considered poisonous. The simple leaves are arranged in a sub-opposite manner; often appearing whorled. The leaves are gently three or five lobed; overall shape is ovate; tip of the lobes are acute and the leaf has a cordate base. The leaf measure around 12 cm in length. The inflorescence is in the form of panicle of cymes. The flower stalk and flower across measure around 1.7 cm and 8 mm respectively. The flower is greenish in color. The fruit is in the form of a tri-parted capsule. The capsule is initially green in color, turn yellowish and then to dark brown. The seeds are black in color and elliptic in shape and about 2 cm long. Barbados nut is planted as a hedge plant in Tamilnadu. The seeds are processed to extract bio-fuels.
