Fabaceae
Tamarindus

Tamarindus indica L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 34 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Comoros, Madagascar. It is a tree and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is has environmental uses and social uses, as animal food, a poison, a medicine and invertebrate food and for fuel and food.

Descriptions

Kew Species Profiles

General Description

From the sausage-shaped fruits of the tamarind tree comes the sticky acidic pulp that has been used as a food ingredient for thousands of years.

Tamarind fruits were traded widely in ancient times. Records from the eastern Mediterranean show Tamarindus indica was already in cultivation there in the fourth century B.C. On encountering the fruit in western India, Arab sea-traders thought the sticky black pulp and seeds of the fruit resembled their native date palm, so they combined their common name for date palm 'Tamr', along with the Arabic name for India ('hindi'), to arrive at the common name tamrhindi on which the scientific name Tamarindus is based.

Species Profile
Geography and distribution

The origin of tamarind is uncertain as it has been widely cultivated since ancient times. It is apparently native to tropical Africa and Madagascar but is found throughout the tropics. In some areas where it was originally cultivated, it has now run wild (it is naturalised).

Description

Overview: A tree up to 30 m tall with a spreading crown of up to 12 m in diameter.

Leaves:The leaves are up to 15 cm long and are composed of numerous small leaflets, which close at night, arranged in pairs along a central axis.

Flowers: The flowers are about 2.5 cm across and have three petals that are golden with a pattern of red veins as well as two tiny thread-like petals that are barely visible. The flowers are borne on inflorescences up to about 20 cm long.

Fruits: The brown, short-haired, sausage-like fruits contain an acidic pulp which is a much-prized ingredient of confectioneries, curries and pickles.

Threats and conservation

This widely distributed species is not currently of conservation concern.

Uses

From the sausage-shaped fruits of the tamarind tree comes the sticky acidic pulp that has been used as a food ingredient for thousands of years. The pulp was traded widely in ancient times leading to the extensive use and cultivation of tamarind, which in turn has resulted in the widespread tropical distribution of this species.

The edible fruits, and especially the pulp, can be eaten raw or used as an ingredient in curries, pickles, confectionery and in fermented drinks. The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked. Tamarind wood is used as timber, firewood and for charcoal. Other uses of the species include medicines, dyes and for planting as an ornamental.

Cultivation

Tamarindus indica is propagated at Kew using semi-ripe apical or internodal cuttings. Initially these are placed in a misting unit where there is bottom heat and frequent fogging. When rooting has occurred successfully, the plants are potted up into a loam-based or organic compost. They are then placed in a zone where the temperature is maintained at 18 to 28 ˚C. The watering regime keeps the substrate constantly moist but not soggy.

This species is subject to mealy bug, which is removed physically whenever possible. It is hoped that tamarind could be used as a host for the parasite sandalwood in future growth experiments in the Tropical Nursery.

Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Search Kew's Seed Information Database for further details on Tamarindus indica seeds

Tamarind at Kew

A tamarind from Ethiopia can be seen in Kew's Palm House.

There are also specimens of Tamarindus indica in the Tropical Nursery, one of the behind-the-scenes areas of the Gardens.

Distribution
Madagascar
Ecology
Tropical seasonally dry forest, woodland and wooded grassland, often found along rivers.
Conservation
This widely distributed species is not currently of conservation concern.
Hazards

Flour from the ground seeds can cause asthma and contact dermatitis.

[KSP]

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular
TAMARIND
Morphology General Habit
A handsome evergreen tree 10 m tall or more; leaves glabrous or nearly so; leaflets 10–18 pairs, oblong, 12–25 mm long, the venation finely prominulous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes mostly shorter than the leaves; calyx 8–10 mm long; petals pale yellow with red veins, the larger petals slightly longer than the calyx
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods 5–10 cm long or more, 2 cm thick, brown and finely scaly; seeds 1 cm in diameter, lustrous brown.
Distribution
Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac.
[Cayman]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit
Tree to 25 m; crown rounded; bark rough, grey or grey-black.
Morphology Branches
Young branchlets pubescent to puberulous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves: stipules free, narrowly ovate, small, early caducous; petiole with rachis 5–12(16) cm long, pubescent; leaflets in 10–18 pairs, (0.8)1.2–3.2 cm long, narrowly oblong, rounded and asymmetric at the base, rounded to truncate or sometimes emarginate at the apex, pubescent or occasionally glabrous except for a tuft of yellowish hairs at the base, venation raised-reticulate on both surfaces.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 1–15(22) cm long; axis pubescent to densely so; pedicels 3–14 mm long, glabrous to pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower buds red.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium 3–5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals pale yellow inside, reddish outside, 8–12 mm long, elliptic, acute, imbricate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals yellow with red veins, large ones 10–13 mm long, elliptic to obovate-elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods 3–14 cm long, 2–3 cm in diameter, cylindrical with irregular constrictions, straight or curved, brown-scurfy, 1–10-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds chestnut-brown, 11–17 × 10–12 mm, rhombic to trapezioid.
[FZ]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/62020997/62020999

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution
Native of tropical Africa (doubtfully also Asia), now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for ornament and for the fruits.
Morphology General Habit
Evergreen tree 3–24 m high Large petals elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 1–1.3 cm long, golden with red veins
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 5–12(–16) cm long; leaflets c. 10–18 pairs, narrowly oblong, (0.8–)1.2–3.2 x 0.3–1.1 cm, usually glabrous or nearly so
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 1–15(–22) cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 0.8–1.2 cm long, reddish outside
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods (3–)6.5–14 x 2–3 cm, 1–10-seeded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds chestnut brown, 11–17 x 10–12 mm.
[FSOM]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1200 m.; Andes, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.
Morphology General Habit
Árbol
[CPLC]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
tamarindo
[UNAL]

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit
Tree 3–24 m. high; bark rough, grey or grey-black; crown rounded; young branchlets pubescent or puberulous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves:petiole with rhachis 5–12(–16) cm. long, ± pubescent; leaflets in 10–18(–21, fide F.C.B.) pairs, narrowly oblong, (0.8–)1.2–3.2 cm. long, 0.3–1.1 cm. wide, rounded to rounded-subtruncate rarely slightly emarginate at apex, rounded and asymmetric at base, glabrous except for a tuft of yellowish hairs at base, sometimes pubescent up midrib and margins, rarely all over both surfaces; venation ± reticulate-raised on both surfaces.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 1–15(–22) cm. long; axis subglabrous to densely pubescent; pedicels 3–14 mm. long, glabrous to pubescent.
Morphology General Buds
Flower-buds red.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium 3–5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 8–12 mm. long, pale yellow inside, reddish outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Large petals 10–13 mm. long, elliptic or obovate-elliptic, gold with red veins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods curved or sometimes straight, sausage-like, (3–)6.5–14 cm. long, 2–3 cm. in diameter, usually obtuse at base and apex, sometimes irregularly constricted, closely covered outside with brown scurf, 1–10-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds chestnut-brown, ± rhombic to trapeziform, 11–17 mm. long, 10–12 mm. wide.
Figures
Fig. 32.
Habitat
Woodland, wooded grassland, deciduous bushland; near sea-level to 1520 m.
Distribution
K1 K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 widespread in the tropics of the Old World
[FTEA]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian woodland, Sudanian woodland, Somalia-Masai forest, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; scrub forest., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; bushland and thicket., Cultivated; Indian Ocean: West Malagasy forest.
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Tree
Vernacular
Amli, Anbli, Imli, Indian Date, Kily, Madiro, Maha-siyambala, Puli, Siyambala, Tamaleni, Tamare, Tamaren, Tamarin, Tamarin des Bas, Tamarind, Tamarindo, Tamarinier, Tamarinier des Bas, Tamerine, Tamrind
[ILDIS]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1200 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Caldas, Casanare, Cauca, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Norte de Santander, San Andrés y Providencia, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Tree.
Conservation
IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.
[UPFC]

Caesalpiniaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Ecology
Commonly cultivated; also in savannah, especially on termite mounds.
[FWTA]

Uses

Use
Food, timber.
[KSP]

Use
The juicy, acidulous pulp of the fruit is used to make a refreshing drink, and as an ingredient of candies and condiments. The plant itself makes a fine shade tree, resistant to drought, and there are also numerous uses for the leaves and wood.
[Cayman]

Use
Chemical products, Domestic, Environmental, Fibre, Food and Drink, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Wood
[ILDIS]

Use Animal Food
Used as animal food.
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Fuel
Used for fuels.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Invertebrate Food
Used as invertebrate food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
Use Social
Social uses.
[UPFC]

Common Names

English
Tamarind

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Kew Species Profiles

    • Kew Species Profiles
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Neotropikey

    • Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0