Tropical Almond Leaves

Ketapang Leaves / Indian Almond Leaves

Effect

The active ingredients in the leaves (among others tannin) have a mild disinfection and fungicidal effect .
Because of this one can use them e.g. to prevent spawn fungi, but also for treatment and as a prophylaxis of fin rot and mucus membrane problems.

On its home ground the leaf brew is also employed to treat people that have colic and sickness .

The pH-value is only slightly lowered, the complete salt content (conductivity) minimally increased.
Das Wasser bekommt nach einiger Zeit einen schönen bernsteinfarbenen Ton, bleibt dabei aber glasklar.

General

The well known pan tropical well propagated Indian almond tree (Terminalia catappa L.) belongs to the Combretaceae family. These are actually wood plants of the tropics or sub-tropics, a few are liana (spreading climbers). The flower is small and un-conspicuous. Fruits, especially the littoral species, are spread by water, its swimming ability is because of an air-rich Pericarp, and there is also the samara type.
The fruits of the Indian almond Catappa tree have a kind of almond odour and because of this they are willingly eaten.

Another well known member of this family is the white mangrove (Lagencularia racemosa).

Because the tree is quite salt tolerant, it is cultivated to provide shade close to the beach. The area where it is naturally propagated covers from Madagascar over the Indian Ocean as far as the Fiji-, Rykyu- and Bonin-Islands.

Dosage

2 - 3 leaves to 100 l water for 14 - 21 days. Simply lay them into the Aquarium. After 1 - 2 days the leaves have soaked themselves full of water and float down. Besides their effects they also offer a decorative view into a natural formed pool.

Loricariides, shrimps and crustaceans will welcome the steeped leaves as an alternative meal.

Storage

Please do not store the leaves in plastic foils in which they are delivered. These covers are only for protection from damage and pollution during transport. In the closed bags the leaves can be attacked by mildew, that can be washed away again, but it is better to avoid it occurring in the first place if possible.

So best is to dry the leaves and store them in an airy place protected from light.

Web Shop...

...Previous Article		Next Article...