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anacardium

Scientific Name: Anacardium

Family: Anacardiaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Anacardium: An Overview

Anacardium is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. The information available describes its use in traditional medicine and homeopathy, particularly Anacardium occidentale, the cashew tree.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Anacardium
  • Common Names: Marking Nut, Varnish Tree, Cashew, Cashew Nut
  • Family: Anacardiaceae (also historically referred to as Terebinthaceae)
  • Major Group: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
  • Synonyms: Semecarpus Anacardium / Linn filius (for Anacardium Orientale), Anacardium latifolium Linn., A. officinarum, Cassuvium pomiferum (Lamarck) for Anacardium occidentale.
  • Species Mentioned: Anacardium occidentale (Cashew), Anacardium orientale, Anacardium excelsum (caracoli), Anacardium humile, Anacardium amapaense, Anacardium nanum, Anacardium giganteum.
  • Taxonomic Serial No.: 28793 for Anacardium occidentale (TSN 28793)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Anacardium species are native to tropical America.
  • Anacardium occidentale is indigenous to tropical regions like Northeast Brazil.
  • It thrives in tropical regions and can grow on lateritic, gravelly, coastal soils.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Anacardium occidentale is a medium-sized, spreading, evergreen tree that can reach a height of up to 12 meters.
  • Leaves are alternate, ovate, and 15-20 cm long.
  • The fruit is kidney-shaped.
  • Trees within this genus have simple leaves.

Considerations for Pets

  • Members of the Anacardiaceae family include plants like poison ivy and poison oak, which are known for causing skin irritation.
  • The fruit is a kidney-shaped nut with a resinous, irritant pericarp.

Traditional Uses

  • Cashew gum, produced by tropical American Anacardium humile, A. occidentale, and A. nanum, has been used as a substitute for gum arabic and as an adhesive.

Quirky Facts

  • The name Anacardium comes from Greek words where "ana" means "upwards" and "cardium" refers to the "heart" or "core" of the fruit, because the nut is located outwardly.

Further Resources

  • Tropical Plant Database
  • Forest & Landscape Denmark - University of Copenhagen: seed leaflet on Anacardium
  • Wikimedia Commons