Common plants and trees of Goa
- Red soil rich in bauxite, iron ore, limestone, manganese ore and silica
- Plenty of rain. Annual SW monsoon rainfall 320 to 355 cm. (126 to 140 inches)
- Tropical temperature. Annual range 20°C to 34.5°C (68°F to 94°F)
- Portuguese influence of 500 years that resulted in the introduction of exotic species like cashews, chilies, papaya, breadfruit, pineapples, guavas etc…
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E: Babul
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Tiny feathery bipinnate leaflets
Flower/fruit: Small yellowish/whitish ball like flowers. Fruits are dark leathery necklace shaped pods containing 7 to 12 seeds
- Sap or lac used in jewelry
- Wood resistant to termites and is used as railway sleepers
- Twigs used to brush teeth
- Spines serve as fishing hooks and paper pins
E: Cashew
K: TBD
M: Kaju
Leaves: Leathery green leaves with prominent vein
Flower/fruit: Yellow or pink flowers that mature into yellow/orange/red fleshy cashew apple with kidney shaped seed or nut on the outside
- Nut is commercially prized food
- Cashew apple juice is rich in Vitamin C and alcohol, hence is used to ferment a drink called ‘feni’
E: Pineapple
K: TBD
M: Ananas
Leaves: long-pointed leaves usually needle tipped with sharp, up curved spines on the margins
Flower/fruit: At blooming time, the stem elongates and enlarges near the apex and puts forth an inflorescence of small purple or red flowers. The oval or cylindrical-shaped, compound fruit develops from many small fruits fused together. It is both juicy and fleshy with the stem serving as the fibrous core. The tough, waxy rind may be dark green, yellow, orange-yellow or reddish when the fruit is ripe
- Fruit eaten raw, cooked or as juice
E: Custard apple. Correct name is sugar apple
K: TBD
M: Sitaphal
Leaves: TBD
Flower/fruit: Greenish/white flowers appear with new leaf growth in early spring. Fruits ripen 3-4 months later throughout summer and fall into a small (2-4"), knobby fruit with thick green skin and soft, creamy white flesh covering dark black shiny seeds. Flesh often having a minty or custardy flavor. Ripened fruit will show black spots on the outside.
- Fruit edible fresh or used to make beverages and shakes
E: Betul nut
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Feather like 2-m fronds. Leaflets have fine parallel veins along axis.
Flower/fruit: Unisexual flowers, female flower surrounded by small white scented male flowers. Clusters of fruit, each an ovoid orange berry with soft fibrous cover encasing 2 cm red/yellow seed
- Nuts called ‘supari’ used in paan (nuts wrapped in betel leaves with spices for flavoring). Contain stimulant 'arecoline'
E: Jackfruit
K: TBD
M: Phanas
Leaves: Very large thick glossy leathery dark green elliptic leaves. Alternate.
Flower/fruit: Numerous yellowish/green flowers, males and female separate, maturing into large green fruit (largest tree borne fruit in the world!!) with thick rind covered with spiky knoblike projections. Seeds are smooth and ovoid surrounded by juicy yellow pulp. It is advisable to use cooking oil on hands when opening the fruit to avoid the copious gummy latex.
- Fruit is edible. Soft variety is sweeter and is called ‘picco’ and the hard called ‘ross’
- Seeds eaten after boiling or roasting are said to taste like chestnuts
E: Bread fruit
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Large with pointed margins arranged in whorls
Flower/fruit: Male and female separate. Bowling-ball sized fruit has leathery green/yellow rind. Inside is hard starchy white flesh covering small seeds
- Fruit is edible
- This fruit plays a pivotal role in the classic story “Mutiny on the Bounty” when in 1793 Capt. Bligh carried 2000 plants from Tahiti to Jamiaca
E: Cucumber tree
K: Bimli
M: TBD
Leaves: Spirally arranged, composite, alternate pointed leaflets
Flower/fruit: Clusters of fragrant pink or red flowers mainly from main trunk. Oblong fruit is multi-lobed soft leathery skinned green on outside and fleshy white on inside with sharp sour acidic taste. Related to star fruit Averrhoa carambola which has star cross section and milder flavor.
- Berry used in cooking
- When dried berry can be substituted for tamarind. Especially good with prawn curry
E: Margosa
K: TBD
M: Neem
Leaves: Sickle shaped leaflets with toothed margin sub-opposite each other.
Flower/fruit: Clusters of cream colored fragrant flowers maturing into fleshy egg shaped fruit with one or two hardened seeds
- Fruit preferred by birds
- Leaves repel insects and twig has medicinal properties
- Seed oil used in soap making
- Wood used in ship construction
E: Camel’s foot
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Opposite. Shaped like hoof. Light underside. Each half has four prominent veins
Flower/fruit: Tube like pod elongated. Turn black when mature.
- Ornamental
E: Toddy Palm
K: TBD
M: Tad
Leaves: Large fan-shaped or palmate compound leaves
Flower/fruit: Green flowers, male and female on separate trees. Orange fruit is a drupe. Hard-shelled fruit turns reddish black when ripe. It is fibrous encasing 3 seeds
- Sap used for Toddy drink (cider like extra that is fermented into palm ‘feni’) and sugar
- Fruits edible. Eaten roasted on coal
E: Red Silk Cotton
K: TBD
M: Shevri
Leaves: Deciduous lance-shaped leaflets.
Flowers/fruit: Large brilliant crimson that attract birds and squirrels. Fruit black when ripe. Seeds embedded in silky cotton disperse with wind
- Floss used in pillows and surgical dressings.
- Wood used in matchboxes
E: Bougainvillea
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Ovate. Densely tomentoes on both surfaces.
Flower/fruit: Wide variety of colored perennial flowers with ovate bracts
- Ornamental Plant
E: Flame of Forest
K: TBD
M: Palas
Leaves: Trifoliate - 3 large leathery leaflets on a common stalk
Flower/fruit: Spectacularly bright orange/red cluster of flowers with black calyces, maturing into slender pod with a solitary seed
- Bark/seeds believed to cure snake bites and scorpion stings
E: Peacock flower
K: TBD
M: TBD
- Ornamental
- Parakeets love to eat seeds
E: Papaya
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: large fan shaped leaf appearing in spiral at the top of the plant with prominent ribs.
Flowers/fruit: White 5-petal flowers maturing into green oval shaped fruit that turns yellow when it ripens. Flesh is orange/red with small round black seeds (similar to black pepper in appearance)
- Fruit edible when ripe
- Fruit and leaves contain 'papain' good for tenderizing meat
E: Blackberry
K: Kanda
M: Karaunda
Leaves: Numerous dense branches with leathery glossy dark green oval opposite leaves with sharp thorns in axils of leaves.
Flowers/fruit: Fragrant starry white flowers are borne in terminal clusters of 2 to 12. Fruit has tough thin skin that turns smooth glossy black when ripe and juicy inside with either purple or white flesh protecting 2 to 8 small flat brown seeds. Flesh ranges from acidic to bitter to sweet (when ripe) taste
- Berry eaten or made into jams and preserves
- Fruit extract used in dyeing and tanning
- Leaves used for silkworms
E: Indian laburnum
K: TBD
M: Bahava
Leaves: Oblong opposite paripinnate leaflets in 4-8 pairs
Flower/fruit: Bright yellow flowers in drooping clusters maturing into 6” to 8” long flat green pods that turn dark brown/black when ripe. Pods contain 40 to 100 seeds
- Ornamental.
- Timber is durable
E: Coconut
K: TBD
M: Narel
Leaves: Large crown of feather-like pinnately compound yellow-green leaves toward the top of the tree
Flower/fruit: Small clusters of flowers that mature into fruit. Brown colored hard-shelled fruit protects a soft white fleshy kernel that lines inside of shell which is filled with water. The nut is encased in a thick fibrous green cover that turns brown on maturity
- Copra or white flesh used in cooking and extraction of oil.
- Coir or husk used for ropes and mats
- Sweet coconut milk is a refreshing drink
- Leaves used for weaving and thatching.
- Spines used for broom
- Nero made from sap. After fermentation this is called Tadi (toddy)
E: Datura
K: TBD
M: TBD
- Medical Tree
E: Gulmohar
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Composite with 20 opposite bipinnate leaflet pairs
Flower/fruit: Bright orange flowers in clusters maturing into ‘sword’ shaped pods encompassing flat seeds.
- Ornamental
- Pods used as cattle fodder
E: Bamboo
K: TBD
M: Bhariyel
Leaves: Deciduous, narrow lance shaped
Flower/fruit: Every 30 to 45 years gregarious flowering occurs. Annual flowering sporadic in November with ripe seeds in April
- Building, tent poles and in paper pulp
- Leaves as fodder
E: Indian gooseberry
K: TBD
M: Avla
Leaves: Tiny, narrow leaves, opposite.
Flower/fruit: Dense small greenish/yellow flowers borne in compact clusters in the axils of lower leaves. Fruit look like round goose berries clustered along the branches. Fruit is fleshy - astringent to extremely acidic. Light-green when raw and yellow when ripe. 4 to 6 dark smooth seeds inside
- Fruit is richest known natural source of Vitamin C
- Fruit used in pickles and preserves Tree
E: Woodapple
K: TBD
M: Bael
Leaves: Glossy bright green hand-shaped leaves arranged alternately.
Flower/fruit: Small greenish flower clusters maturing into base-ball sized round or oval woody hard cased fruit with tangy fibrous flesh encasing scattered small flat white seeds
- Fruit edible eaten raw
- Also used in making chutneys, jams and preserves
E: Banyan
K: TBD
M: Vad
Leaves: Large dark glossy oval leaves with blunt tip. Leaves/branches exude sap when broken
Flower/fruit: Flowers grow in pairs. Fruit is reddish in color and small in size. It is of the fig family and uses the fig wasp to propagate.
- Shade .
- Birds feed on fig-like fruit
E: Fig
K: TBD
M: Anjir
Leaves: Bright green, single, alternate and large
Flower/fruit: Tiny flowers of the fig are out of sight, clustered inside the green "fruits". pollination by fig wasp. Tough green/brown or purple skin. The interior is a white inner rind containing a seed mass bound with jelly-like flesh. Pollinated seeds provide the characteristic nutty taste when eaten dried.
- Fruit eaten or made into preserves and jams
E: Pipal
K: TBD
M: Pimpal
Leaves>: Alternate large heart shaped leaves that narrow abruptly and have long tail-like tip
Flower/fruit: Male flowers grow at mouth of fig. Fruit is purple in color. It is of the fig family and uses the fig insect to propagate.
- Religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists.
- Shade
- Birds feed on fig-like fruit
E: TBD
M: Ratamba
K: Kokum
Leaves: Red when young, lance shaped
Flower/fruit: Hermaphrodite flowers. Purple fruit is globose and encloses seeds in a red acidic pulp.
- Peel of fruit used in cooking.
- Seeds used for edible fat
E: Bottle Palm
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: A small crown consisting of 4 to 8 pinnate (featherlike) leaves sits atop a smooth green crownshaft that connects the leaves to the trunk. Leaflets are about 2 feet long and arranged in two upward pointing rows
Flower/fruit: inflorescences emerge at the point where the crown shaft meets the trunk. They grow upward as they mature supporting numerous small white flowers. These are followed by 1" round fruits which change from green to black as they mature
- Ornamental
E: Jacaranda
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Opposite, paired compound leaves
Flower/fruit: Purple blossoms
- Ornamental tree
E: Jasmine
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: glossy, leathery, elliptic to lance-shaped, about 2" long, and arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem
Flower/fruit: Sweetly fragrant, snow-white, pinwheel shaped flowers bloom at night from spring to summer.
- Ornamental
- Strings of flowers used to adorn hair of ladies in spring
E: Lantana
K: TBD
M: TBD
- Ornamental
- Also grows in the wild
E: Mango
K: TBD
M: Amba
Leaves: Lanced shaped pointed a tip and crowded at the ends of branches. Dark green above and pale below. Red when immature.
Flowers/fruit: Greenish-yellow self-fertilizing flowers borne in inflorescences at branch terminals mature into fleshy kidney shaped / oval yellow fruit that grows at the end of long panicle. Fruit has leathery waxy green skin when immature with a single stony seed (mono embrionic)
- Fruit eaten or made into pickle or juices
E: Chickoo
K: TBD
M: Chickoo
Leaves: Glossy alternate and spirally clustered green leaves at tip of forked twigs.
Flower/fruit: Small inconspicuous flowers throughout year mature into round or egg-shaped fruit. Skin is scruffy brown. Flesh is brown and smooth or granular in texture with 3 to 12 hard black shiny flattened seeds in the middle.
- Fruit edible
- Latex called chicle used as base for chewing gum
E: Port Wine Magnolia or Banana shrub
K: Chafa
M: Champa
Leaves: Small waxy dark green leaves. Alternate with red hairs on young growth
Flower/fruit: Heavily scented cream flowers with purple streaks. Pruning increases flowering in spring
- Ornamental.
- Strings of flowers used to adorn ladies hair in spring.
E: Drumstick
K: TBD
M: Shevga
Leaves: Several leaflets arranged alternately on a long stalk
Flowers/fruit: Small 5-petalled whitish/yellow in clusters that mature in long green stick like fruit, that hang downward, encasing winged seeds
- Leaves and branches used to feed grazing livestock
- Flowers and drumstick are prized vegetable
- Oil from seed is edible and also used in cosmetics
E: Mulberry
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Thin glossy light-green leaves
Flower/fruit: Small flowers held on non-descript catkins, when pollinated the flower and their bases start to swell becoming fat and juicy that ripen over an extended period of time.
- Edible fruit
E: Banana, Plantain
K: TBD
M: Keli
Leaves: The large oblong leaf blades joined by fleshy, deeply grooved, short petioles
Flowers/fruit: Tip of the stem, is at first a large, long-oval, tapering, purple-clad bud. As it opens, the slim, nectar-rich, tubular, toothed, white flowers appear. Fruits: (technically a berry) Turns from deep green to yellow or red
- Fruit used as a nutritious low-cost balanced food
- Leaves used as fodder, decoration and serve as natural eating plates
E: Copper Pod
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Smooth leathery leaflets
Flowers/fruit: Rust red shoots give arise to small bright yellow 5-petalled flowers. Seed cases are rusty brown, giving tree its common name
- Ornamental providing shade
E: Date Palm
K: TBD
M: Khajur
Leaves: Crown of terminal clustered feather-like compound leaves. Leaf segments pointed and elongated
Flower/fruit: Female and male flowers on different trees. Fruit is drupe oblong yellow when raw, brownish red when ripe. The pericarp when ripe is sweet, juicy and edible and it surrounds a long pointed seed
- Popular dry fruit
E: English Tamarind
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Pinnately compound. At the base of each leaf is normally found a pair of short, sharp spines
Flower/fruit: White ball-shaped flowers that mature into curved/spiral pod with thin rinds. When immature pods are green and turn reddish, often splitting open, when ripe. Each segment contains a single whitish/green seed covered with white flesh that is sweet/tart
- Used as hedging
- Fruit edible.
E: Pepper
K: TBD
M: Murem
Leaves: rather thick, broadly ovate-oblong or nearly round, and evergreen.
Flower/fruit: Minute flowers borne in spikes. Female and male separate. The fruit is a small, globular drupe or berry, red in color. Powdered black pepper is the ground, entire fruit. White pepper is prepared by removing the outer skin of the fruit and grinding. It is less pungent than the black
- Popular spice that triggered need to find spice route in late 15th century
E: Temple tree or Frangipani
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Long narrow pointed dark green waxy leaves that grow near branch tip in whorls. White latex will drip from a broken leaf or branch
Flower/fruit: Large white flowers with yellowish center clustered in groups of 2 to 5.
- Ornamental
E: Mast tree
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Evergreen lance-shaped leaves with wavy edges on drooping branches
Flower/fruit: Flowers yellow greenish. Fruit in clusters of 10-20 yellow/purple or black berries
- Tree used as ship masts.
- Fruit preferred by bats
E: Guava
K: TBD
M: Peru
Leaves: Opposite, short-petioled, oval. Aromatic if crushed
Flowers/fruit: Faintly fragrant, pinkish white flowers, borne singly or in clusters. Base-ball sized fruits may be round, ovoid or pear-shaped. Green when immature it turns yellow when ripe. The better varieties are soft when ripe, creamy in texture with a rind that softens to be fully edible. The flesh may be white, pink, yellow, or red
- Fruit is eaten raw
- Ripened fruit made into juice, jams and preserves
- Fruit has anti-diarrhea properties
E: Pomegranate
K: TBD
M: Anar
Leaves: Glossy, leathery narrow lance-shaped leaves
Flowers/fruit: Attractive scarlet, white or variegated flowers have 5 to 8 crumpled petals and a red, fleshy, tubular calyx, which persists on the fruit. The tough, leathery rind is typically yellow overlaid with light or deep pink or rich red. The interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp
- Fruit eaten raw or made into juice
- Syrup sold commercially as grenadine
E: Buttercup
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Lance like leaf whorls
Flower/fruit: Yellow cup like flowers that mature into fruit pods. Seeds are diamond shaped
- Ornamental
- Seeds used to by children to play ‘eye and hand’ coordination game
E: Mangrove
K: TBD
M: Kamo
Leaves: Broad smooth leathery elliptical leaves, 3-5" long, tapering at both ends
Flower/fruit: Solitary orange/red flower that mature into small top-shaped brownish fruit that grows foot long green sprout before dropping from the tree
- Wood valued as fuel
- Roots support rich estuarine ecosystem and prevent soil erosion
E: Rain tree
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Composite with 12 opposite leaflets without a terminal leaf.
Flowers: Small white and pink fluffy flowers
- Shade
- Mature pods used as cattle feed
E: Water apple
K: TBD
M: TBD
Leaves: Opposite obovate and elliptic-oblong, cordate at the base and clasping the twig; blunt and notched or short-pointed at the apex; 2 to 10 in (5-25 cm) long, 1 to 6 3/8 in (2.5-16 cm) wide; dull, light-green above, yellowish-green beneath; leathery; not aromatic or only slightly so when crushed.
Flower/fruit: Faintly fragrant, in loose terminal or axillary clusters of 3 to 7. Fruit is thin-skinned and shiny varying from white, to light-red in color. Shape is pear or bell like with a narrow neck and broad apex. Flesh is white or pink, mildly fragrant, dry or juicy, crisp or spongy, and usually of sweetish but faint flavor. There may be 3 to 6 small seeds, frequently only 1 or 2, but generally the fruits are seedless
- Fruit edible.
- The wood is hard and is fashioned into small pieces of handicraft
E: Java Plum
K: Zamna
M: Jambul
Leaves: Aromatic smooth leathery leaves, opposite.
Flower/fruit: Small greenish/white appear straight from twigs below leaves. Fruit is oblong and purple/black when ripe with juicy pulp and solitary seed
- Fruit is sweet and juicy and is preferred by birds and bats
- Fruit used in vinegars and liquor
E: Tamarind
K: TBD
M: Chincha
Leaves: Bright green pinnate dense leaflets 10-20 pairs, opposite without terminal leaflet. Close at night.
Flower/fruit: Clusters of pale yellow blossoms maturing into irregularly curved dark brown fibrous pods encasing with 6 to 8 flat glossy brown shining seeds in an acidic pulp. When ripe the shell is brittle and breaks easily.
- Fruit is dried and used in cooking, curries and pickles
- Used commercially as flavoring in in beverages, candies and desserts
- Tree is wind resistant
E: Teak
K: TBD
M: Sag
Leaves: Very large, opposite, elliptical. Young leaves will stain red when rubbed together.
Flower/fruit: Small white maturing into hard bony bladder shaped fruit
- Wood has resin that preserves it and stops white ants and insects hence is used in construction
E: Indian Almond
K: TBD
M: Badam
Leaves: Large rough leathery green leaves that turn red before falling
Flower/fruit: Small greenish/white flowers that grow in spikes and mature into an oval green hard cased nut that tastes similar to almond
- Ornamental
- Nut can be crushed to get oil similar to almond oil
- Pigs eat nuts
E: Indian Jujube
K: Borum
M: Bor
Leaves: Thorny branches contain oval staggered leaves with 3 veins. Underside is whitish.
Flower/fruit: 5-petal yellow/green flower at base of leaf that mature into fleshy berries or drupes with one or two seeds inside a hard seed case. Immature fruit is green and becomes yellow or red when ripe.
- Berries eaten as fruit or made into jam and preserves.
- Leaves fed to silkworms
E: TBD
K: Adavaon
M: TBD
Leaves: TBD
Flower/fruit: TBD
- TBD
References
- Killips, P, A guide to the flora and fauna of Goa (Orient Longman)
- Mukherjee, Pippa, Nature guides – Common trees of India (WWF)
- N L Bor & M B Raizada – Some beautiful Indian climbers and shrubs (BNHS)
- Sahni, K C; The Book of Indian Trees (BNHS)
- Ali, Salim, The Book on Indian Birds. (BNHS)
- Chhapgar, B F; Nature Guides – Common fishes of India (WWF)
- Gay, Kehimkir Punetha; Nature guides – Common Butterflies of India (WWF)
- Prater, S H; The Book of Indian Animals (BNHS)
This compilation, a fruit of the arborist in me, would not be possible without the encouragement and support of a number of people including Mr. John Menezes, Mrs. Nilima Kamat Menezes, Mr. Asit Ghosh and others. Email your comments and feedback to goagonsalves@yahoo.com and I'll be happy to add your name to this list
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