Dialium ovoideum
Thwaites
Fabaceae
Common Name: Velvet Tamarind
General Information
Velvet tamarind is a large, spreading tree.
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber and edible fruit. The tree is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit, which is sold in local markets[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Semi-dry tropical evergreen and deciduous forests at low elevations[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
,
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A tree of the moist tropics.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
The fruits are eaten[
]. An agreeably tasting, sweet, slightly acid, powdery pulp[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. It is used fresh or in a drink[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. The fruits are small, ovate pods, each about 1.5 cm long, produced in large clusters[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. Each fruit is covered with a slight, black, velvet-like down, has a thin, brittle shell which is easily cracked between the fingers, and is single-seeded[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The dark red coloured wood is close-grained, very hard, heavy and strong[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
,
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A handsome wood, it is used for house building and the manufacture of furniture, paddles and oil-presses[
,
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. It is much sought after in its native habitat[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
