This plant belongs to a large family of legumes and is represented by a single species. The birthplace of tamarind is the eastern territories of the African continent and the island of Madagascar. From there, he was brought to the tropical countries of Asia, and then to South and Central America. Another name for the plant is Indian Date (Tamarindus indica). In the local dialects of Malaysia, he is called asam, imli. In each state, the tree is given its own special name, and in one of the provinces of Thailand, tamarind is a symbol. The plant has earned popularity due to the medicinal and nutritional qualities of its fruits.
Botanical Description
This is a slow-growing moisture-loving tree, capable of reaching a height of 25 m and a trunk width of about 70-100 cm. Its life span is about 200-250 years. Despite its tropical origin, the Indian date is able to withstand a short-term drop in air temperature to small minus values.
The bark of a tree at a young age has a reddish-brown color, in adult specimens it becomes brownish-gray, covered with deep longitudinal grooves. The root system is branched, located close to the surface. Shoots of roots draw moisture, minerals and organics from the soil, preventing the growth of herbs between them.
Lateral shoots of trunks are numerous, sprawling, form a wide and dense spherical crown. Young branches are very flexible and durable, they can be tied in knots, suspended load. The leaves of tamarind resemble acacia: complex-ply, composed of thin oval leaves of bright green color paired on the central petioles. One sheet contains 10–40 such plates.
Depending on the growing conditions, tamarind can be a deciduous or evergreen tree.. Greens showered from it in regions with long dry periods. In tropical humid areas, leaves remain on branches for several years. Small pink flowers, collected in small tassels, have no decorative value. The tree reaches maturity and flowering ability by the age of 7–8 years.
Wood and fruit
Tamarind wood refers to sound species. This is a very tough and durable timber of a reddish hue with an original natural pattern of contrasting stripes and frizz. It is moisture resistant, not susceptible to cracking, warping, rot and fungi. The density of the dried mass is about 1120 kg / cubic meter. The sapwood of the tree is narrow, yellowish, soft, clearly delimited from the mass of the core.
But the main value of a date is Indian fruits. In appearance, these are traditional large beans, similar to peanuts: oblong capsules about 15–20 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, bumpy, curved irregularly shaped, covered with a grayish-brown skin. On the branches they grow in groups of 2–4 pcs., Hanging on short stalks. Under the skin are edible flesh and large shiny dark brown seeds. In one pod they can be 4-8 pieces.
Application
Dates are widely cultivated in tropical countries as a fruit tree. The pulp contained in the pods is rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains: ascorbic acid, B and A vitamins, antioxidants, organic acids, pectin, tannins, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and many other useful ingredients. One adult tree per season is capable of yielding up to 150–180 kg of fruit.
In terms of carbohydrate content, tamarind is close to the famous date. Unripe pulp has a milky color, sour taste.It is used for sauces and seasonings for various dishes in Mexican, Indian, English cuisine. Ripe tamarind separates well from the peel, has a light brown color and the consistency of a thick jam. It can be eaten as an ordinary fruit, to cook confectionery and drinks. The taste of the Indian date is sour-sweet, rich, similar to prunes or apple jam. The aroma is pleasant, sweet.
Fruits are used as desserts, added to fruit salads, mousses, confectionery.
In addition to nutritional value, tamarind has medicinal. The use of pulp eliminates exhaustion, anemia, and digestive disorders. It is believed that this fruit is a strong aphrodisiac. Masks from tamarind help women to maintain youthfulness and smoothness of the skin. An extract from it is used in the cosmetology industry.
Leaves and flowers also have a therapeutic effect. Decoctions of them help with fever, infectious and inflammatory diseases, lung problems.
Wood use
Seeds of pods contain a lot of oil, from which varnishes are made to cover furniture.
Tamarind wood is used in the turning industry, as it has high technical characteristics and is noble in appearance, resembling a rosewood. Material prices are also similar. Finishing materials, flooring, expensive furniture, sports and kitchen equipment, various souvenir crafts are made from wood. In widespread construction, tamarind is not used. This is prevented by the curvature of the trunks, from which it is difficult to obtain even boards. In addition, the restoration of felled trees takes decades, and when you consider that these are valuable fruit-trees, there is doubt about the benefits received.
Growing
Tamarind - a great element of landscape design. In tropical latitudes, it is often used for landscaping the streets, giving the surroundings a picturesque view. In the European climate, this tree can be grown only in greenhouses, warm greenhouses, conservatories. Indoors, it is bred as a bonsai culture. For successful cultivation, it is necessary to comply with the requirements for lighting, nutrition, moisture, to create the optimal temperature regime.
Getting seedlings from tree seeds is easy. For this:
- Prepare a pot with a mixture of perlite and peat.
- The tamarind bones are placed in warm water for 3-4 hours, then dried. The surface of the seeds is rubbed a little with abrasive paper or a stiff brush, so that small notches appear in the shell. So the shoots appear faster.
- Bones are placed in the soil shallow, sprinkled with a layer of 1 cm. The surface of the pot is pulled with cellophane, providing a greenhouse effect.
- Leave the dishes in a well-lit room at an air temperature of + 25 ° C. If necessary, include additional heating and fluorescent lamps.
- Every day, the film is lifted and wetted with water from a spray bottle.
Shoots appear after 3-4 weeks. As soon as the sprouts become visible, the film is removed. When the first full cirrus leaves appear, seedlings can be transplanted into permanent containers with soil. For tamarind, a mixture of garden soil with peat and humus is suitable. It is recommended to add part of the sand to the total volume ⅛, and pour a thick layer of drainage from small stones to the bottom. After planting, it is recommended to cover the plants with a dome made of transparent plastic or a jar to protect against drafts and evaporation of moisture. After 2-3 weeks, the protection is removed.
Care and reproduction
Pots with saplings set on the south side. For proper lighting, they are regularly rotated around its axis. On hot sunny days it is allowed to take plants outside.
Ambient temperature should be stable: about 24–27 ° С. Abrupt changes in the direction of decrease by 4–5 ° С are fatal for tamarind. Cold drafts are also unacceptable. In winter, you can create a cooler microclimate at 16-18 ° C.
Potted soil should always be moist. The best way to ensure this is to water the soil from a spray bottle every 1-2 days. You can regularly put the pot in a pan with water to nourish the roots below. Moisture should not stagnate. This can cause rotting or mold. The surrounding air also needs to be humidified: put saucers, aquariums, compact fountains in the room.
Young tamarinds are fed with complex mineral compounds and organics. Dry fertilizer can not be applied, it should be dissolved in water and water the soil every 2-3 weeks. Adult trees feed 1 time in 2 months.
Pruning of tree crowns is done in accordance with the bonsai technique, leaving 4–5 short skeletal shoots on the branches. Within a few years, the trunk will grow stronger, and the crown will become magnificent. In height, home tamarinds reach 70–90 cm.
Every 3-4 years, the trees are transferred to new containers, changing the soil. Exotic plants by this time take away all the beneficial substances from the soil.
Homemade tamarinds are propagated vegetatively. A small sprout with leaflets is plucked from an adult shoot. A length of 5–7 cm is sufficient. The cuttings are planted in a mixture of wet sand and peat and placed in a warm place. After 4 weeks, the first roots appear in it and the plant is planted in a permanent place.
With proper care of the tree, there is a chance to wait for its flowering and fruits.