Velvet tamarind facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Velvet tamarind |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dialium
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| Species: |
guineense
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The velvet tamarind (scientific name: Dialium guineense) is a tall tree that grows in warm, tropical places. It's known for its small, tasty fruits, which are usually about the size of a grape. These fruits have a hard, brown shell that you can't eat. The tree belongs to the Fabaceae family, which is a group of flowering plants that includes peas and beans.
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Where Velvet Tamarind Grows
This tree likes to grow in thick forests across Africa. You can find it along the southern part of the Sahel, which is a dry area just south of the Sahara Desert. In Togo, people call it atchethewh.
The velvet tamarind grows in many West African countries. For example, in Benin, it's called "Assiswè". In Ghana, it's known as Yoyi. People in Sierra Leone call it "black tombla". You can also find it in Senegal. In Guinea-Bissau, it's called "Veludo," which means "velvet" in Portuguese, because of its soft texture. In Nigeria, it has different names depending on the language: Awin or "Igbaru" in Yoruba, Icheku in Igbo, and Tsamiyar biri in Hausa.
Uses of the Velvet Tamarind
Different parts of the velvet tamarind tree are useful. The bark and leaves have special properties that people use to help with various health issues.
The Fruit and Seeds
Each velvet tamarind fruit usually holds one hard, flat, brown seed. These seeds are typically about 7 to 8 millimeters wide and 3 millimeters thick. They look a bit like watermelon seeds. Sometimes, a fruit might have two seeds inside. The seeds are shiny and covered with a thin layer of starch.
The soft, fleshy part inside the fruit, called the pulp, is safe to eat. You can eat it fresh, or you can soak it in water to make a refreshing drink. The leaves of the tree are a bit bitter, but they are used as an ingredient in a Ghanaian dish called domoda.
Timber and Wood Uses
The wood from the velvet tamarind tree is very hard and heavy. Because of its strength, it is often used for building things like houses or other structures. People also use the wood as firewood to cook or keep warm. It can also be turned into charcoal.
