Terminalia (catappa)
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Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Combretaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Combretum | ||
| Scientific Name: | Terminalia catappa L. | ||
| Common Name: | Indian almond, Singapore almond, wild almond, almendra, beach almond, Malabar almond, tropical almond, coastal almond, sea almond, false kamani; kamani haole (Hawaii); tavola (Fiji); telie (Tonga); talie (Samoa) | ||
| Ecotype: | lowland tropical, found in coastal areas, beaches and tidal river banks | ||
| General Distribution: | Native to tropical coastal areas of India and Southeast Asia through Malesia, northern Australia, Melanesia to eastern Polynesia and Micronesia; likely aboriginal introduction to eastern parts of current range. It is not considered to be an aborginal introduction in Hawaii. | ||
| Known Invasiveness: | This species is widely introduced throughout other tropical regions of the world where it may be invasive in some areas and invasiveness outside its naturally occurring range is unknown. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Time To Grow: | 0 | ||
| Target Specifications: | Minimum height is 20-30 cm, stem diameter 8 mm, roots well-formed | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Flowering occurs in November-March, with fruits available January-April. Fruits are collected from the ground around trees. It is not advisable to pick from the tree, undropped seeds may not be mature yet. Some losses and damage due to seed predation are to be expected. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Clean, unshelled seeds can be stored in dry, cool conditions for a few weeks or months and retain fair viability. There are about 150 nuts per kilo (including shell) | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | After fruits are collected, they are soaked in water overnight to soften the outer skin (exocarp). The outer skin is then removed, exposing the fibrous endocarp. Cracking the shell by tapping once lightly with a mallet or hammer may hasten germination. Germination takes 20-60 days. | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
Seeds with the shell on are sown in trays or beds of sand, vermiculite, or potting media, and covered with about 1-2 cm of same material. Partial shade is recommendedfor the germination phase, and frequent waterings are necessary to ensure seeds are very moist and never dry out. Containers such as Treepots (Small Ones or Tall Ones, 3/4, one gallon or larger, available from Steuwe and Sons) are used. Any well-drained media works well for this species. |
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| Establishment Phase: | Emergents must be transplanted in a timely fashion to avoid damaging the rapidly growing taproot. This is often done as soon as the two cotyledons unfold, usually about 6 weeks after sowing. Light shade and moist conditions (frequent watering) facilitate good growth after transplanting. | ||
| Length of Establishment Phase: | 4 - 6 weeks | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | Seedlings grow fairly slowly at first, with growth accelerating after several months. Amending with additional fertilizer such as a light top dressing of Gro-More 8-8-8 will aid in growth and development. If any weeds enter the soil-free media, they should be removed. Defoliating insects including grasshoppers and beetles may be problematic in some environments, and should be managed or deterred. Seedlings should not be pruned, as this increases their vulnerability to pest and disease problems, including insect borers. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 8 - 10 months | ||
| Hardening Phase: | During the final 4 weeks, watering frequency may be reduced to introduce seedlings to temporary, moderate water stress if they are to be outplanted in a dry area. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 4 weeks | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | When seedlings have reached target size, they may be delivered to the planting site. They are not extracted from their container or stored before shipping. Keeping them in their container is necessary to protect the roots. Containers may be stood up in cardboard boxes, or delivered in trays. Seedlings must be protected from wind and excessive heat during transport, but refrigeration is not recommended. Empty containers and trays may be returned for cleaning and reuse after the planting is complete. | ||
| References: |
Clarke, W.C. and R.R. Thaman. Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability. United Nations University Press, New York. Flores, E.M. 2002. Terminalia catappa L. in Vozzo, J.A. (Ed). Tropical Tree Seed Manual. USDA Agriculture Handbook 721. Washington, DC. Francis, J.K. 1989. Terminalia catappa L. Institute of Tropical Forestry, Rio Piedras, PR. Thaman, R.R., C.R. Elevitch and K.M. Wilkinson. 2000. "Multipurpose Trees for Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands." In: Elevitch, C.R. and K.M. Wilkinson. 2000. Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands. Permanent Agriculture Resources, Holualoa, HI. web: http://www.agroforestry.net Soerianegara, I., and R.H.M.J. Lemmens, Eds. 1994. Plant Resources of Southeast Asia No. 5(1): Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. PROSEA, Bogor, Indonesia. Wagner WL, Herbst DR, Sohmer SH. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu, HI. 2 volumes. 1854 pp. |
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Citation:
Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Terminalia catappa L. plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
