Scientific Name : Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier
Common Name : Terminalia, Umbrella Tree, Madagascar Almond
Chinese Name : 小葉欖仁, 細葉欖仁, 非洲欖仁
Family : COMBRETACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origins | Madagascar. |
|---|---|
| Applications | Since the canopy of Umbrella Tree is clearly layered, neat and tidy, it is a popular greening species. It takes up little space for growth while being able to provide shade for pedestrians. The bark and wood of the Umbrella Tree contain tannins, which can be used for dyeing. The wood itself can also be used as fuel. The Umbrella Tree is also the species chosen for reforestation in Madagascar. In addition, a research has revealed that the species having anti-fungal effects. |
| The relatives of Terminalia | In contrary to Terminalia mantaly H. Pierrier, which has the Chinese name “Small-leaf Almond (小葉欖仁)”, Terminalia catappa L. is the species named “Big-leaf Almond (大葉欖仁)” in Chinese, with leaves that are several-fold larger than those of the former one. They can be easily distinguished by their appearance. Terminalia mantaly 'Tricolour' is a cultivar of Terminalia mantaly H. Pierrier. The variation lays in its leaves marked with milky white to milky yellow patches on the margin, a paler green colour of the leaf blade, plus pinkish young leaves. Hence, the cultivar is named “Variegated-leaf Almond (錦葉欖仁)” in Chinese and “Three-colour Small-leaf Almond (三色小葉欖仁)”. |
| Growing habit | Semi-deciduous tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 10 m tall. |
| Stems | Trunk erect, terete, bark blackish brown, with protruding brownish streaks of lenticels. Branches pseudoverticillate, lateral branches spreading horizontally into distinctive layers, tiered into whorls, hence called as “pseudoverticillate”. |
| Leaves | Often 3 to 7- fasciculate on the apex of short branches, obovate, papery, subsessile, sparsely crenate on margin. Midveins prominent on both surfaces, with conspicuous glands at axils of veins. |
| Flowers | Green, tiny, arranged into spike, axillary, erect. Stamens exserted from corolla, inflorescences alike caterpillars. |
| Fruits | Drupaceous, ellipsoid, fleshy. |
| Flowering period | March to June in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | April to September in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=9978
Scientific names from other databases
― Plants of the World Online : Terminalia mantaly H.Perrier