Kottan, Kottamba/Terminalia catappa

 

Botanical name:-Terminalia catappa
Family name:-COMBRETACEAE
English name:-Talisay tree, Umbrella tree
 Almond Tree, Indian Almond, Tropical Almond, Sri Lanka Almond
Sinhala name:-Kottamba
Tamil name:-Nattuvadumai,Nattu-vadama
Sanskirt name :-Tailaphala

Distribution:-Sri Lanka ,India, Andamans and adjacent islands, Myanmar, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Vietnam, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia,China, Taiwan, Cambodia, and New Caledonia ,
Status:- Native
Edibal parts:-kernel of seed
Ayurvedic usage:-Heart disease, Urinary tract diseases
Parts used to make medicine:-Bark
propagation:-Seeds.

Read more:


From HERBAL FOOD and MEDCINES in SRI LANKA( Dr Seela Fernandu)
Page 82

 " Kottamba is known as the country almond or Indian  almond . This is a medium sized tree with large shining leaves. It is not endemic to Sri Lanka. It is native of Malaysia, but is now grown in most tropical countries. It drops its leaves twice a year, and when the leaves drop it starts bearing. The wood is light and durable and is used for house building, and the making of yokes and wheels. The bark of the Kottamba tree  yields  a black pigment which is a remedy for scabies. Its leaves contain tannin. The juice of the leaves is used to prepare an ointment for scabies. The kernel of the fruit yields 50/.oil resembling almond oil and it can be used a substitute  of almond oil.

           The Kottamba tree belongs to the family of combretaceae and the botanical name is Terminalia catappa . It is also known as Jungle badma in Hindu. In sri Lanka Kottamba tree grow effortlessy in the jungles, in villages and sometimes in the suburbs of the towns. Kottamba tree are grown for shade. This is the season for these almonds and they are sold in plenty even on the pavements. People in the villages have less regard for this fruit, and plenty of fruits can be found rolling under the trees. The curative value of almond seed is considerable and they produce a  valuable oil, which unlike other oil is harmless for heart patient.

           Barefoot doctors in Malaysia have found that Kottamba seeds can be given to patient who recover from typhoid.

            During ancient times in Sri Lanka children collected these seeds and preserved them like cadjunut in the attics of their kitchens. When the season was over they cracked the nuts and enjoyed eating the kernel. I don’t think these children ever knew the value of the oil that these seeds contained. Eating almonds makes your skin smooth. It is a safe oil which is good as peanut oil in food. Those who experiment with herbs should enter Kottamba in to their lists. We can easily produce nutritious butter out of these seeds."