Digital Garden

Tamarindus indica

Malabar plum, Java plum, black plum, jamun or jambolan

 Scientific name- Tamarindus indica L. 

Common Name- Tamarind Tree, Imli, Chineli 

Family- Fabaceae 

Habit type- Tree 

Habitat- Grows in tropical regions up to 18m. Deciduous, perennial. 

Leaves 

Paripinnate compound, leaflets 10-20 pairs, oblong, obtuse, stipules linear, caducous. 

Bark 

short stout trunks topped by bushy wide-spreading crowns with arching branches. 

Inflorescence 

Terminal racemes 

Flower 

Flowers in few flowered terminal racemes pedicels articulated below the calyx, bracts concave, bracteoles small. 

Corolla- petals 5, 3 unequal, the other 2 rudimentary, obovate-oblong, yellow with pink-red stripes. Stamens 10, 3 fertile, united above half way up, the rest rudimentary, as small scales or bristles. 

Calyx- conelike, segments 4, unequal, oblong, obtuse. 

Gynoecium- Ovary stalked, ovules 8, 12 or more, stigma capitate. 

Fruit 

Pod curved, indehiscent, with a tuft, scaly epicarp and an edible pulpy, acid mesocarp. Seeds 3-12, obovate-oblong, truncate. 

Flowering and Fruiting Time- May – July 

FACTS & MEDICINAL USES 

• Tamarind Benefits Sexually- tamarind is full of vitamin C that helps in improving the semen quality in males. 

On the other hand, tamarind has magnesium and vitamin B6 that is good for female fertility. 

• Tamarind Benefits Weight Loss- tamarind is full of fibrous pulp. That means it has no fat content and mainly made of fibre. 

• Tamarind Benefits for Liver- according to the latest research, tamarind protects your liver. It helps in reversing the condition of the fatty liver and maintains the liver’s health. 

• Anti-cancer Properties of Tamarind: tamarind also has anti-cancer properties. It is rich in phytochemicals like beta-carotene that has anti-cancer properties. 

• Tamarind For Bone Health- tamarind is rich in minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins like vitamin B1, B3, etc. All these nutrients help in improving your bone health and prevent conditions like osteoporosis. 

• Tamarind For Digestive System: tamarind has tartaric acid, malic acid, and potassium that help in relieving constipation. It has laxative properties. But its leaves are used for diarrhoea and abdominal 

pain. The imli/tamarind tree has a lot of medicinal uses. Tamarind also has polyphenolic compounds that help in preventing peptic ulcers in your stomach or intestine.