Kindal
Terminalia paniculata Roth
Location
Amphitheatre
Family
Combretaceae
Common names
Kindal, Hulive, Maruthu, Pulimaddi
Native range
Endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India (including Karnataka and Kerala)
Habitat
Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests
Flowering
March – May
Fruiting
June – August
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)
About this plant
A tall, buttressed tree that can grow up to 35–40 meters in height. It has a straight bole and spreading branches. Leaves are simple, alternate, and often clustered at the ends of branchlets. The tree produces small, yellowish-white flowers in large terminal panicles. The fruit is a winged drupe that aids in wind dispersal.
Uses
Valued for its high-quality timber, which is used in construction, furniture, and plywood industries. It also plays an important ecological role in forest ecosystems of the Western Ghats, supporting biodiversity.
Growing conditions
Thrives in well-drained red loamy soils of hill slopes and valleys. Requires a warm, humid climate with good monsoon rainfall
Habit
Large deciduous tree