Beach almond

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Beach Almond
• Alman Tree
• Almond
• Almond Tree
• Tropical Almond
• Indian-almond
• Malabar-almond
• country-almond
• sea-almond
• tropical-almond
• Country Almond
• Indian Almond
• Jungli Badam
• Sea Almond

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Myrobalanus catappa
• Buceras catappa
• Juglans catappa
• Terminalia catappa var. pubescens
• Myrobalanus commersonii
• Phytolacca javanica
• Myrobalanus rubrigemmis
• Terminalia catappa var. subcordata
• Terminalia burmanica
• Terminalia subcordata
• Terminalia catappa var. macrocarpa
• Terminalia rubrigemmis
• Terminalia catappa var. rhodocarpa
• Terminalia catappa var. chlorocarpa
• Terminalia kydiana
• Terminalia paraensis
• Terminalia moluccana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Combretaceae. Specifically, Terminalia cataphylla is a member of the genus Terminalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In the Macaronesian region, its distribution includes the island nation of Cape Verde. Moving to West Tropical Africa, the species is well-established in countries such as Benin and the Gambia. It is also commonly found within the borders of Ghana. Furthermore, its range extends to include the coastal territory of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Terminalia catapta is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological flexibility, as it is frequently found within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating its capacity to adapt to landscapes modified by human activity.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Terminalia catapta are characterized by a specific chromosomal constitution that defines its cellular structure. The species possesses a chromosome number of 24, providing the fundamental genetic framework for its development and reproductive stability. This genetic makeup is organized at a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that the organism maintains two complete sets of chromosomes within its somatic cells. This stable diploid configuration contributes to the plant's genetic consistency and its ability to maintain specific phenotypic traits across generations.

Chromosome number :

24

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Terminalia catapta is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody branches, a structural adaptation that defines its life form and survival strategy. This phanerophyte classification applies to both its primary growth habit and its overarching morphological development, ensuring that its vital tissues remain elevated and protected throughout its extended lifespan.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia catappa is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. As a terrestrial species, it is an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a minimum height of 8 m, a mean height of approximately 14.5 m, and the capacity to reach a maximum height of up to 25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

14.5 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia catapta is characterized by its specific metabolic and morphological adaptations, primarily utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. The plant exhibits a non-succulent structure, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its organs, and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Its foliar morphology is defined by large, broad leaves that serve as primary sites for gas exchange and light interception; these leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 43 cm, with widths spanning from a minimum of 12 cm to a maximum of 21 cm.

Leaf length max:

43 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

21 cm

Leaf width min:

12 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Terminalia catapta is characterized by a complex interplay of biotic and abiotic mechanisms, beginning with its inflorescence, which typically ranges in length from 0.1 m to 0.25 m. The pollination process is primarily biotic, driven by an insect pollination syndrome. The plant produces fleshy fruits that vary in size, with a length ranging from 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm and a width spanning from 2 cm to 4.5 cm. Once the fruit matures, the dispersal of the species follows multiple pathways; it utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, allowing it to be carried by water, as well as an endozoochorous syndrome, where seeds are dispersed via ingestion by animals. The seeds themselves are substantial, with a mean mass of approximately 4.47645 g (ranging from a minimum of 1.117 g to a maximum of 3.9147 g) and a consistent seed volume of 16,000 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit width max:

4.5 cm

Fruit width min:

2 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.25 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

3.9147 g

Seed mass mean:

4.47645 g

Seed mass min:

1.117 g

Seed volume max:

16000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Terminalia catappa has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, seed.

Leaf

1. Food chemistry. Molecular sciences
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Cureus
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. The Pan African medical journal

Fruit

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Biogerontology

Seed

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Terminalia catappa has 67 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Punicalagin, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Punicalin, Tannin.

Punicalagin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Punicalin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied microbiology

Tannins

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied microbiology

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Terminalia catappa has 464 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Pharmacognosy reviews
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Scientific reports

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiulcer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Insulinogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Terminalia catappa has 25 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, Bacillus subtilis, DNA damage, Escherichia coli, Fasciola gigantica.

Oxidative stress

1. Food chemistry. Molecular sciences
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Bacillus subtilis

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Dna damage

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Escherichia coli

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Fasciola gigantica

1. Parasitology

Mycoses

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Staphylococcus aureus

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Abscesses

1. The Pan African medical journal

Apoptosis

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Terminalia catappa has 20 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, aqueous extracts, aqueous leaf extract, FBuOH, FrAq.

Aqueous extract

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Aqueous extracts

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Journal of applied microbiology

Aqueous leaf extract

1. The Pan African medical journal
2. Scientific reports

Fbuoh

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Fraq

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf extracts

1. Cureus

Methanolic extract

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Methylene chloride and methanol extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Terminalia catappa powder

1. Biogerontology

Aqueous fraction (fraq)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology