Dialium indum

Scientific name	Dialium indum [1]
Common names	Velvet tamarind; keranji; luk yee
Genus	Dialium [1]
Family	Fabaceae [1]
Order	Fabales [1]
Habit	Evergreen tree
Native setting	Lowland primary forest, flat country, hills, and occasional swamp or peat-swamp habitat [2] [3]
Flowering and harvest	April–June flowering and about August–September harvest in the Thai account [2]

Dialium indum, known as velvet tamarind, keranji, or luk yee, is an evergreen Southeast Asian fruit tree of tropical monsoon regions. It occurs in southern Thailand and Malaysia and is associated with lowland forest, well-drained flat ground, and hills, although it is also recorded from some swamp and peat-swamp settings. Young trees tolerate shade, and the black pod contains a sweet, pithy endocarp. ^{[2] [3]}

Description

The species is described as a medium to very tall tree, reaching up to about 40 m in one tropical-plant account but usually smaller. It has hard, compact wood, pinnate leaves, and terminal panicles of white flowers. The fruit is an oblong or ovoid black pod with a sweet, pithy endocarp around the seeds. ^{[2] [3]}

Cultivation

Soil and water

Velvet tamarind is associated with tropical monsoon regions and is reported from both good and poor soils. For cultivation, begin with a deep, well-drained site: this is the recurring site condition in the species accounts even though the natural range also includes occasional swamp and peat-swamp habitat. Keep moisture more dependable during fruit development, because inadequate soil moisture is associated with fruit drop. ^{[2] [3]}

Sun and humidity

Young velvet tamarind trees tolerate shade, a useful trait during establishment beneath a tropical canopy. As the tree enlarges, give it the warm, humid conditions of a tropical monsoon climate and enough exposure for a large evergreen tree. ^{[2] [3]}

Seasonal changes

The Thai fruit account places flowering in April–June and harvest about August–September, with fruit development taking roughly three to four months in that setting. Translate those dates to the local wet and dry or warm and cool rhythm rather than treating them as a universal calendar. Maintain soil moisture through fruit development, especially when the seasonal rains weaken, because dry conditions can increase fruit drop. ^[2]

Propagation

The species is believed to grow from seed in its wild habitat, and seed is the documented propagation route for velvet tamarind. ^{[2] [3]}

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

Terminal white-flowered panicles are followed by oblong or ovoid black pods. In Thailand, flowering is reported for April–June and harvest for about August–September. Fruit drop has been associated with inadequate soil moisture, so irrigation should not be allowed to fall sharply during fruit development. ^[2]

The juvenile period is highly variable in the Thai observations. Local farmers report 15–17 years, one tree flowered at 42 years, and two trees growing near a toilet flowered within 5 years. These contrasting field observations reflect different sites and trees; they are useful context for a long-lived species but not a dependable fruiting schedule. ^{[2] [3]}

Fruit and uses

The ripe pod contains sweet, pithy endocarp and is eaten raw. In Thailand, the pulp is also sun-dried and made into paste or coated products. The same account notes pest risk when fruit is incompletely dried, so drying and storage need attention rather than being treated as interchangeable with fresh-fruit handling. ^{[2] [3]}

References

• ↑ [1] GBIF species match: Dialium indum.

• ↑ [2] Under-utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand, FAO RAP Publication 2001/26.

• ↑ [3] Dialium indum, Useful Tropical Plants.