Anacardium occidentale

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

  • Botanical Name : Anacardium occidentale L.
  • Common Name : Kaju, Cashew
  • Plant Family : Anacardiaceae
  • Plant Form : Tree
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 9, 27, 28
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Van Chetana Kendra

About Anacardium occidentale Plant :

  • Habit : A small crooked tree.
  • Leaves : Simple, obovate, rounded at apex, base wedge - shaped, coriaceous.
  • Inflorescence : Panicles
  • Flowers : In terminal panicles, bracts ovate. Calyx 5 partite, imbricate, deciduous.Petals linear - lanceolate, deflexed. Stamens about 9, one fertile and longer than others, disk, filling the base of the calyx. Ovary obovoid, tapering into awl - shaped style.
  • Fruit : Nut, reniform, seated on a large, pyrriform, fleshy thalamus of golden yellow colour, formed of the enlarged disk and the top of the peduncle.
  • Flowering and Fruiting time : January - March
  • Significance : Fruits are edible, roasted nuts which are aphrodisiac, and cures loss of appetite.