Indian almond family

26 catalogue species · Order Myrtales

Trees, shrubs and lianas often in tropical forests. Includes Indian almond (Terminalia catappa), arjun tree, and crepe myrtle relatives.

Explore the species roster ↓

Field identification keys

Compare several features together. These are typical family patterns; individual species can vary. Observe without tasting or handling unfamiliar plants.

Stem cross-section: Round
Leaf type: Simple
Flower symmetry: Actinomorphic
Fruit: Drupe
Distinctive marker: No true petals — a tubular calyx substitutes; fruit often winged or sharply ribbed.

Familiar members: Bahera · Jangli Badam · Asan · Arjun · Harra

Species in Combretaceae

Search species in Combretaceae

26 of 26 species

Native status is regional. Range tags distinguish Kew WCVP dataset matches from individual reviews. Pet-filter records report no known toxicity to cats and dogs; some sources cover a genus or cultivar. Review the source context. Missing values are excluded, and no rating establishes suitability to eat or freedom from other hazards.

Combretaceae species, origin and reviewed pet status
Botanical name	Common & regional names	Origin & reviewed pet status
Terminalia bellirica	Bahera Belliric myrobalan / Bedda nut tree बहेड़ा · बहुवीर्य · भूतवास (hi) · bahera, bahuvirya, bhutvaas, Kalk बर्रो (ne) · barro বহেড়া (bn) · baheda, Baheda, Bahera +10 languages தான்றி (ta) · tanri, Semmaram భూతావాసము · కర్షఫలము · తాడి (te) · bhutavasamu, karshaphalamu, tadi, Tadi ತಾಱಿ · ತಾರಿ · ತಾಱೆ (kn) · Taari, Tare Mara താന്നി (ml) · thaanni, Thanni बेहडा · बिभीतक · कलिद्रुम (mr) · behada, bibhītaka, kalidruma, Kalidruma Bahuvirya, Bibhitakah (sa) Baheda (gu) Bahada (or) Bhoira (as) Bahera (ur)	Native: Assam, India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to China (S. Yunnan) and Malesia.
Terminalia catappa	Jangli Badam Indian Almond Tree / Badamier / Java Almond / Malabar almond / Singapore almond / Ketapang / Pacific Almond जंगली बादाम (hi) · Jangli badam, badam, jangali badam काठिया बदाम · जंगली रूखबदाम (ne) · Kaathiyaa Badaam কাঠ বাদাম (bn) +4 languages வாதாம் கொட்டை மரம் (ta) · Nattuvadumai, Vadumai ಕಾಡುಬಾದಾಮಿ · ನಾಟಿಬಾದಾಮಿ · ನಾಡುಬಾದಾಮಿ (kn) · Kaadubaadaami, Naatibaadaami Naadubaadaami തല്ലിമരം · കടപ്പ (ml) · Ketapag जंगली बादाम · खोटा बदाम · मलबार आलमंड (mr) · Jangli badam	Native: Andaman Is., Assam, India, Nicobar Is. ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Comoros, Madagascar, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to Pacific, N. Australia.
Terminalia alata	Asan Indian Laurel आसन · साज (hi) · Asan, Saj ऐन · असण · साताडा · शार्दूळ (mr) · Ain, Asan, Satada, Shardul அருச்சுனம் · கருமருது · மருதமரம் (ta) · Aruccunam, Karumarutu, Marutamaram +6 languages Matthi (ml) ఇనుమద్ది (te) · Innu maddi, Nalla maddi ಬನಪು · ಕರಿಮತ್ತಿ · ಸದರ · ಮೞ್ತಿ · ಮತ್ತಿ · ಜುವ್ವಾರೆ (kn) · banapu, Karimatti, Sadara, Mazhti, Malti, Matti, Juvvaare Asan (bn) Sahaju (or) रक्तअर्जुन · असन · सर्ज (sa) · Raktarjun, Asan, Sarj	Not yet reviewed
Terminalia arjuna	Arjun White Murdah / Arjun Tree अर्जुन · अर्जुन वृक्ष (hi) · Arjun, arjuna, kahua, arjuna vriksh অর্জুন (bn) மருது · வெண் மருது · ஆற்று மருது (ta) · Marutu +10 languages అర్జున చెట్టు · తెల్ల మద్ది (te) ಅರ್ಜುನ ಮರ · ಮತ್ತಿ (kn) അർജുന മരം · നീർമരുത് (ml) · Nirmarutu अर्जुन · अर्जुन वृक्ष · अर्जुनसादडा (mr) अर्जुनवृक्षः (sa) અર્જુન · અર્જુન સાદડ (gu) ଅର୍ଜୁନ (or) ਅਰਜੁਨ (pa) অৰ্জুন (as) කුඹුක් (si)	Native: Assam, India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to Myanmar.
Terminalia chebula	Harra Chebulic Myrobalan / Gallnut / Black myrobalan / Chebulic myrobalan हर्रा · हरड़ (hi) · Harra, Harad, Hirdi हर्रो (ne) · Harro হরিতকী (bn) · Haritaki +11 languages kaDukkaay, Amagola, Arabi, Aridadi (ta) కరక్కాయ (te) · Nallakaraka, Karkchettu ಅಳಲೆ · ಅಳಿಲೆ · ಅಣಲೆ (kn) · Alale, Alile, Anale Katukka, Kadukka, Putanam (ml) हिरडा (mr) · Hirad, Hirda Abhaya (sa) Hirda (gu) ହରୀତକୀ (or) · Karedha Hilika, Hilikha, Shilikha, Silikha (as) ہریڑ (ur) · Haejarad අරළු (si)	Native: Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to China (W. Yunnan) and Indo-China.
Anogeissus latifolia	Dhava Crane Tree / Axle-wood Tree / Button tree / Indian Gum Tree / Indian sumac धावा (hi) · dhava धावा (ne) సిరిమాను చెట్టు · సిరిమానుచెట్టు (te) +3 languages ದಿಂಡಿಗ (kn) മഴുക്കാഞ്ഞിരം (ml) · Anogeissus latifolia धावडा (mr)	Native: India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Terminalia anogeissiana. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent.
Quisqualis indica	Madhu Malati Rangoon Creeper / Burma creeper / Chinese honeysuckle / Rangoon creeper মাধৱী লতা (as) · Madhavi lata मधु मालती (hi) · Madhu Malati ಸಂಧ್ಯಾರಾಣಿ · ರಂಗೂನ್ ಕೆಂಪುಹೂ · ರಂಗೂನ್ ಕೆಂಪುಮಲ್ಲೆ (kn) · Sandhya rani, Rangoon kempu hoo, Rangoon kempu malle +5 languages ꯄꯥꯔꯤꯖꯥꯠ (Manipuri) · Parijat मधुमालती (mr) · Madhumalati Irangun malli (ta) মধুমংজরী (bn) · Madhumanjari రాధామనోహరం (te)	Not yet reviewed
Combretum indicum	Rangoon Creeper મધુમાલતી (gu)	Native: Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Tanzania, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to N. Australia.
Terminalia paniculata	Kindal Flowering Murdah / Flowering Murdels kindal (hi) பூமருது (ta) · Pumarutu, Vadamarudu, Venmaruthu చిరిమాను (te) · Putanallamanu +3 languages ಹುಲಿವೆ · ಹುಲುವೆ · ಹೊನಗಲು (kn) · Hulive, Huluve, Honagalu Pullamaruthu, Pumarutu, Maruthu (ml) किंजळ (mr) · Kindal, Kinjal	Native: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: S. India.
Terminalia elliptica	Saaj Indian Laurel Saaj (hi) असन (sa) Kallimaruthu (ta) +3 languages ಮತ್ತಿ (kn) Karimaruthu (ml) अईन · आईन (mr)	Native: Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China.
Combretum albidum var. albidum	Buffalo Calf Plant Oval-leaved wheel creeper पिळुकी (mr)	Not yet reviewed
Terminalia crenulata	Crocodile-Bark Tree Black Murdah	Native: Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Terminalia elliptica. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China.
Terminalia procera	White Bombway	Native: Andaman Is., Nicobar Is. ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Andaman & Nicobar Is. to Papuasia.
Lumnitzera racemosa	Kadakkandal White-Flowered Black Mangrove কিরপা · কৃপাল (bn) · kirpa தீப்பரத்தை (ta) · tipparathai ತಂಡಾರ (kn) · thandaara +2 languages കടക്കണ്ടൽ · കടകണ്ടൽ (ml) · kadakkandal किर्पा (mr) · kirpa	Native: Andaman Is., India, Nicobar Is. ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SE. Kenya to KwaZulu-Natal, W. Indian Ocean, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to SW. Pacific, Australia.
Anogeissus acuminata	Axlewood	Native: Assam, India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Terminalia pendula var. pendula. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: India to China (Yunnan) and Indo-China.
Combretum latifolium	Kojambe Balli Large Leaved Climbing Bushwillow ಕೊಜಂಬೆ ಬಳ್ಳಿ (kn) · kojambe balli മഞ്ഞൾവള്ളി (ml) · manna-valli मोठा पिळुक (mr) · motha piluk	Native: Andaman Is., Assam, India, Nicobar Is. ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: China (S. Yunnan) to Trop. Asia.
Terminalia pallida	Safed Harra White Gallnut सफ़ेद हर्रा · सफ़ेद हरड़ (hi) · Safed Harra, Safed Harad Aymalikakkay, Aymalikam, Niraviyam (ta) ಬಿಳಿ ಕರಕ · ಬಿಳಿ ಹರಡೆ (kn) · Bili karaka, Bili Harade +2 languages വെള്ള കടുക്ക (ml) · Vella Katukka पांढरा हिरड (mr) · Paṇḍhara hiraḍ	Native: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SE. India.
Calycopteris floribunda	Varavalli எறுழம் (ta) అడవి జామ · అడవిజామ (te) ಕುಸುಕನ ಬಳ್ಳಿ (kn) +1 languages പുല്ലാഞ്ഞി · പുല്ലാനി (ml) · Calycopteris floribunda	Native: Andaman Is., Assam, India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Getonia floribunda. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: India to China (W. Yunnan) and Pen. Malaysia.
Combretum roxburghii	Paibal White Combretum Paibal, Punk (hi) Alang, Alena (bn) ಬೊಂತತೀಗೆ (kn) · Bontateege	Native: Andaman Is., Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to China (SW. Yunnan, S. Guangxi) and Indo-China.
Terminalia travancorensis	Terminalia travancorensis കാട്ടുകടുക്ക · ചൂളമരുത് · കൊട്ടക്കടുക്ക (ml) · Terminalia travancorensis	Native: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India, Sri Lanka.
Quisqualis malabarica	Sandhyarani Malabar Madhu Malati ಸಂಧ್ಯಾರಾಣಿ (kn) · sandhyarani സന്ധ്യാറാണി (ml) · sandhyarani	Native: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Combretum malabaricum. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India.
Conocarpus erectus	Green Buttonwood	Introduced: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: S. Florida to Peru and Brazil, W. Trop. Africa to N. Angola.
Conocarpus lancifolius	Lanceleaf Buttonwood	Not listed native: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Somalia. Not listed native does not establish introduction or absence from India.
Combretum shivannae	Bili Sandhyarani Kanara Madhu Malati ಬಿಳಿ ಸಂಧ್ಯಾರಾಣಿ (kn) · Bili Sandhyarani	Native: India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: India (Karnataka).
Terminalia coriacea	Terminalia coriacea	Native: Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Terminalia elliptica. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China.
Terminalia gella	Terminalia gella	Native: Assam, India ↗ Kew dataset Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Terminalia bellirica. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to China (S. Yunnan) and Malesia.

Key pattern

Simple leaves often clustered near branch tips; small flowers lack true petals, their tubular calyx doing the work instead, and ripen into a distinctively winged or sharply ribbed drupe, as in Terminalia's angular almond-like fruit.

Many species are tannin-rich, long used as a source of dye and traditional astringent remedies; several Terminalia species rank among the tallest trees in tropical dry forests.

Identify the species

Which Combretaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Combretaceae species.

How to recognise the Combretaceae family

01
Leaf arrangement: alternate/opposite
02
Leaf type: simple
03
Growth forms: tree/shrub/vine
04
Inflorescence: spike/raceme/head
05
Fruit: drupe/winged

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Combretaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Typical leaf characters

ArrangementVariable
TypeSimple
MarginEntire
VenationPinnate

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Flower symmetryActinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
InflorescenceSpike
FruitDrupe

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Families that can look similar

Myrtaceae

Compare against Myrtaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Myrtaceae

Moraceae

Compare against Moraceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Moraceae

Lauraceae

Compare against Lauraceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Lauraceae

Elaeocarpaceae

Compare against Elaeocarpaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Elaeocarpaceae

Meet Combretaceae in the field

Point your camera, explore possible matches and compare the field marks. Identification runs on your phone, offline and private.

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