Tamarindus indica - Tamarind - 10 seeds

Tamarindus indica, commonly known as the Tamarind, is a large tropical tree with a short massive trunk, ferny pinnate leaves, small yellow flowers and fat reddish brown pods. 
The tree can grow up to 25m in height but is usually less than 15m in cultivation.  It has a short, stocky trunk, drooping branches and a domed umbrella shaped crown about as wide as the tree's height.  The leaves are about 25cm in length with 10 - 18 pairs of 2.5cm oblong leaflets.  Tamarind drops its leaves in pronounced dry seasons and in climates without a dry season it stays evergreen.
 
 
The flowers are about 2.5cm across, pale yellow with purple or red veins, they have five unequal lobes and borne in small drooping clusters.  The velvety cinnamon brown pods are 5 to 15cm long, sausage shaped and constricted between the seeds.  The pulp that surrounds the seeds is both sweet and extremely sour.
 
Tamarinds are grown as ornamental shade and street trees, and for the edible pods.  The pods are fed to livestock, and the pulp within the pods is used to make beverages, curries, chutneys and sauces. 
 
Tamarind pulp is made into a soft drink known as refresco de tamarindo in Latin America, and tamarinade in Jamaica and is also the basis of a popular drink in the Middle East. 
 
Tamarind is used extensively in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine, and is an important ingredient in Worcestershire sauce.  The juice is used to pickle fish in India.  
 
The bark is astringent and tonic and its ash may be given internally as a digestive, incorporated into lotions or poultices, the bark may be used to relives sores, ulcers, boils and rashes.  It may also be administered as a decoction against asthma and amenorrhea and as a febrifuge. 
 
Leaf extracts exhibit antioxidant activity in the liver, and are a common ingredient in cardiac and blood sugar reducing medicines.  
Young leaves may be used in fomentation for rheumatism, applied to sores and wounds, or administered as a poultice for inflammation of joints to reduce swelling and relieve pain.  A sweetened decoction of the leaves is good against throat infection, cough, fever, and even intestinal worms.
The filtered hot juice of young leaves, and a poultice of the flowers, is used for conjunctivitis.  The leaves are warmed and tied to affected areas in order to relieve swellings and pains, particularly sprains.  They are also used for bathing sores or to bathe persons suffering from measles or allergies.
The leaves and flowers are used to make a sweetened tea that is drunk by children as a remedy for measles. They were also used in a preparation which was drunk in early Guyana as a malaria remedy.
A decoction of the flower buds is used as a remedy for children's bed wetting and urinary complaints.
 
The Tamarind tree is a beautiful, fine textured tree and it makes an excellent shade tree in large landscapes.  It often is planted in public parks and as an avenue tree in tropical cities.
 
10 premium quality seeds shipped on receipt of cleared funds.