Stats

Lifespan

Up to 200 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Tropical dry forest

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

The tamarind is a long-lived tropical tree in the legume family, and the sole species in its genus. Its sticky brown pods contain a tartly flavored pulp used in cuisines worldwide — from tamarind candy in Mexico to pad Thai in Southeast Asia.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Fabales

Family

Fabaceae

Genus

Tamarindus

Species

Tamarindus indica