Madagascar Almond Tree

The Madagascar Almond (Terminalia mantaly) is closely related to the Sea Almond, but is distinctly smaller in size, and also produces much smaller leaves. It is extremely popular as an ornamental tree, due to its distinctly formal appearance and neatly tiered structure, and is a favourite amongst landscape designers and architects. The Umbrella Tree is native to Madagascar, where it is also used for reforestation purposes. This tree species rarely flowers or fruits in Singapore.

Terminalia mantaly grows 10-20 m with an erect stem and neat, conspicuously layered branches. Bark pale grey, smooth and rather mottled. Leaves smooth, bright green when young, in terminal rosettes of 4-9 unequal leaves on short, thickened stems; length up to 7 cm, apex broadly rounded, base very tapered, margin wavy. Flowers small, greenish, in erect spikes to 5 cm long. Fruit small oval; seeds, about 1.5 cm long with no obvious wings. The generic name comes from the Latin ‘terminalis’ (ending), and refers to the habit of the leaves being crowded at the ends of the shoots.

It is native to Africa. It can be found at the East side of the Institute of Molecular Biology.

Characteristics:

Deciduous tree. Leaves simple, fascicled at the ends of branchlets, obovate, rounded at apex, ca. 5 cm long, the margin entire.

Indian almond, Madagascar almond and Philippine almond belong to the Combretum family, and they are common ornamental and street trees planted for shade.

The Indian almond, which is salt tolerant, is widely cultivated and naturalized in several regions of the world. The seeds are dispersed by water and bats. Its root and bark are used for tanning. The kernel is also edible. Compared to the Indian almond, the Madagascar almond has slender branchlets and smaller leaves. Both of them are deciduous in fall and winter.