186 TROPICAL FRUITS 



cultivated throughout the warmer parts of India, Ceylon, and 

 Malaya both for its shade and excellent timber, as well as for its 

 fruit. The latter consists of a brownish pod, 3 to 4 inches long, 

 containing a mass of sweetish acid brown pulp. These pods form 

 the "Tamarinds" of commerce, which are used in European as well 

 as in Native medicine. The pulp is pressed and preserved in large 

 masses, being commonly sold in the kaddies or bazaars by weight. 

 It is esteemed for flavouring various dishes, while tamarind-wine 

 and other cooling beverages are prepared from it. In the north- 

 ern part of Ceylon, it is made into a brine for preserving fish. The 

 principal season for the fruit is from January to February. The 

 tree thrives in moist as well as dry districts up to about 2,000 ft. 

 elevation, and in the dry northern part of Ceylon is commonly 

 planted as a shade-tree for road-sides. Several varieties are recog- 

 nised in India. The tree is readily propagated by seed. 



Telfairea pedata (Cucurbitaceae). Telf aria-nuts ; " Mkwe- 

 me." A climber with a slender woody stem, reaching a height of 

 50 to 80 ft., native of Zanzibar and East Tropical Africa. The 

 fruit attains a size of one to two feet or more in length, and eight 

 or ten inches in thickness, containing a large number of flat nearly 

 circular seeds, each about lj inches across. These latter are also 

 eaten, either fresh or dried in the sun and roasted ; they are said 

 to be very palatable, and to contain about 36 % of oil with a value 

 equal to that of olive oil. Propagated by seed, which germinate 

 within a week. 



Terminalia Catappa ( Combretaceae). Indian-almond; 

 44 Kotamba" S.; 44 Kottai " T. A spreading tree, thirty to fifty feet 

 high, with large leathery leaves, native of Malaya. The fruit is of 

 the size of a plum, compressed on two sides, and contains a 

 kernel which is much relished and used for dessert in India. 

 FIRMINGER considered it to be " beyond comparison the most deli- 

 cious nut of any kind the country affords." The tree is deciduous 

 twice a year, and bears two crops of fruit annually before dropping 

 its leaves, i.e., in June and November. It thrives up to about 2,000 ft. 

 in moist as well as rather dry districts. Propagated by seed. 



Trapa bicornis (Onagraceae). Water Chestnut ; u Ikiliya " 

 S. An aquatic plant, common in the tanks of the dry region of 

 Ceylon, also in Bengal, Malaya, and Tropical Africa, FIRMINGER 

 stated : " Much cultivated in many parts of India for its nuts." 

 It does not seem, however, to be in any way cultivated in Ceylon, 

 though the " nuts " are commonly collected and eaten by the 



