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Tamarind, Tamarindus indica

Go to - Landscape Trees
Landscape Shrubs

Family - Fabaceae

The Tamarind is a slow growing tree that in its native tropical Africa can attain heights of 90 - 100 feet with a canopy spread to 40 feet, in Florida half that size is possible.

Stout trunks and finely pinnately compound leaves with 10 to 20 pairs of oblong leaflets (as well as the famous fruit) characterize this amazing tree. Sharing the common name of "Tamarind" with a handful of unrelated specie, Tamarindus indica L. has been imported into South America, Asia, Mexico, India, North America, and many Pacific islands (including Hawaii) as well as Caribbean islands. In South Florida it is still possible to find Tamarind growing in the wild, probably left over from former homesteads long forgotten.

Tamarind is wind resistant, the wood is used in furniture and flooring, the fruit is used in an astonishing array of foods and the Tamarind has many medicinal uses all around the world. Although Tamarind will survive drought it drops its leaves during dry weather.

Tamarind can be propagated from seeds or cuttings, if the fuzzy brown to grayish pods are undamaged the fruit has a long "shelf life" and seeds can remain viable for months.

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