|
BATS
AND THE SEA ALMOND TREE
(Terminalia catappa)
|
The sea almond tree is planted by
the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) in India, by the Mascarene flying
fox (P. niger) in the West Indian Ocean Islands, by the Seychelles flying
fox (P. seychellensis) in the Seychelle Islands and by the red-necked flying
fox (P. vampyrus) in Malaysia. (Fujita 1991)
Red-necked flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus)
Photograph by Pam Thomas, courtesy of Lubee Bat Conservancy
In the Mariana Islands and Guam
the sea almond tree is pollinated and planted by the Marianas flying fox (P.
mariannus).
In the New World tropics the sea
almond tree is planted by the Jamaican fruit bat(Artibeus jamaicensis),the
big fruit bat (A. lituratis),Seba's short-tailed bat(Carollia perspicillata)
and Pallas's spear-nosed bat(Phyllostomus hastatus).
Big fruit bat (Artibeus lituratus)
Photograph by David Leibman, courtesy of Lubee Bat Conservancy
Studies in Madagascar reported by
James M. Hutcheon suggested that the fruit of T. catappa is an important food
for one of the tree's potential pollinators, the Madagascar flying fox (P.
rufus). Hutcheon's pre-1994 observations were that P. rufus would travel 19
to 29 kilometres (12 to 18 miles) nightly to feed on the fruit. The tree produces
flowers and fruits at the same time without interruption making it a valuable
source of food during the rainy season when other fruit is not available.
T. catappa fruit
Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)
Seeds from the bats' foraging were
found beneath the fruiting trees. Unless the seeds are dispersed away from
the parent tree, they may not produce viable plants. However, as the bats
move through the trees harvesting ripe fruit, they may brush against the upright
flowers, remove and transfer pollen.
Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)
The sea almond tree has a distinctive
multi-storied style of growth. A single stem emerges from the centre of the
top of the tree. That stem, having achieved its destined height, sends out
lateral branches which are leafless except at the tips where the tip supports
a rosette of leaves. The tree can reach 25 to 30 metres in height (80 to 98
feet). The
sea almond tree grows along beaches and in company with mangroves.
Sea almond seed
Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)
The fruit has a fibrous flesh which
provides flotation for seeds that travel by sea. Although bats eat the fibrous
flesh surrounding the kernel and discard the kernel, except for children and
perhaps members of some Orinoco tribes, human beings usually discard the flesh
and savour the kernel.
In 1874 T.A.C. Firminger said that
" . . . beyond comparison, this is the most delicious fruit of any kind
the country (India) affords." (Hedrick)
In 1826 W. Ainslie likened the flavour
of the kernel, which can be eaten raw, to that of the English filbert. (Hedrick)
An oil extracted from the nuts can
be used in cooking.
The kernels of other Terminalia species
are enjoyed by humans in the East Indies, Burma, Friendly and Society Islands,
Jamaica, Fiji Islands, Mauritius and Guiana.
Medicine
The kernels, bark and leaves of the
tree are used in Brazil, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, and
southeast Asia to treat: bleeding from tooth extraction, colic, cough, diarrhea,
dysentery, eye problems, headache, intestinal parasites, leprosy, liver disease,
mouth problems, nausea from travel, rheumatism, scabies, skin diseases, stomach
upsets, throat problems and wounds.
The medicinal qualities of the plant
are supported by current research investigating the plant's anticlastic, antioxidative,
antiparasitic, antibacterial and antifungal potentials.
Derivatives from the plant may be
useful for eliminating pathogens, ectoparasites and egg fungal infections
in tilipia fish. Tilipia fish is an important food fish and has been successfully
farmed since early in the history of the Egyptian civilization.
Tannin
Usher states that tannin can be extracted
from the fruit, bark and leaves.
Timber
The wood of T. catappa is not prized
except where wood is scarce, as it is on islands. It can be used for posts
and cart wheels. It is said to be more durable in water than when it is in
contact with the ground.
Ornamental
T. catappa is planted for shade and
wayside enhancement.
And also . . .
Usher says that the fruit is used
to stain teeth black, if that effect is desired and the leaves are fed to
silkworms.
References:
Cancer Lett.1996 Jul 19;105(1)113-8
C. Chitmanat et al., ISHS Acta Horticulturae
678,III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,, - Vol. 4, Targeted
Screeing of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Economics and Law
Fujita, M.S. 1991. Flying Fox (Chiroptera:Pteropodidae)
Pollination, Seed Dispersal, and Economic Importance: A Tabular Summary of
Current Knowledge, Resource Publication No. 2, Bat Conservation International
Hedrick, U.P., editor, Sturtevant's
Edible Plants of the World, Dover Publications, 1972 (First published in 1919)
Hutcheon, James M. 1994. The Great
Red Island: A Future for its Bats? BATS, Volume 12, No. 2, Summer 1994, page
10
Non-wood forest products for rural
income and sustainable forestry,http://www.fao.org/docrep/v8929e/v8929e06.htm
Sea Almond Tree, http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/sea_almond.htm
Tico Ethnobotanical Dictionary, http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/dictionary/tico/t.html
Trees and shrubs of the Maldives,ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai387e/ai387e06.pdf
Usher, George, A Dictionary of Plants
Used by Man, Constable and Company Ltd, 1974
