For a tidy appearance, the leaf and fruit litter need to be removed regularly | The Indian Almond Tree, or lawz bajali in Arabic, is widespread in the tropics |
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The large leaves are up to 25 cm long and 15 cm broad, ovoid, glossy dark green and leathery | The bark is grey-brown and vertically fissured; the tree has spreading, near-surface, fibrous roots |
catappa has a red, edible fruit, when fully ripe tasting like an almond.
22The tree is damaged by frost | catappa is a good species for park and garden shade, and makes a good windbreak |
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It needs to be pruned regularly to control its size: the main leader may be cut at the top to create a wide-spreading specimen | It prefers moist, well-drained, sandy and loamy soils, but is adapted to a wide range of substrates, including saline and alkaline sands over limestone |