Zaitun / Helicopter Tree
Gyrocarpus americanus
Also known as Catamaran Wood Tree
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana & more
- Flowering
- October-April
How to identify Zaitun
Identify Zaitun by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a tree habit.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: October-April.
- In India, compare location records such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions.
- Confirm it sits within the Hernandiaceaea family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Zaitun.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Gyrocarpus americanus
- Genus
- Gyrocarpus
- Family
- Hernandiaceaea
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Dry deciduous forests
- Habitat type
- Forest
- Native to
- Pantropical
- Distribution
- Pantropical
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Flowering & fruiting
- October-April
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Local Names
- Hindi
- ज़ैतून Zaitun
- Tamil
- Chaivavatala, Tanakku, Kadavai, தனுக்குமரம்
- Kannada
- ತಣುಕು Tanuku, ಕಾಡುಬೆಂಡೆ Kadubende, Pollika
- Malayalam
- തണുക്ക്
About Zaitun
A member of the Hernandiaceaea family, Helicopter Tree (Gyrocarpus americanus) is a tree. In India it has been recorded in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and 4 other states. It grows in dry deciduous forests. Flowering and fruiting run from October to April.
Uses
In practice it is cut for timber and furniture.
Hernandiaceaea
Helicopter Tree Family
Zaitun belongs to the Hernandiaceaea family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Hernandiaceaea familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
All plant problem & care guides