Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae)

Scientific name
Anacardium occidentale L.
Family name
Anacardiaceae
Common name
Cashewnut tree (English);Kashu nattonoki (Japanese)
Local name
Mamuang himmaphaan
Evergreen tree, up to 12 m tall, with a wide, dome-shaped crown. Leaves alternate, obovate to obovate-oblong, up to 20 × 15 cm, leathery, reddish-brown when young, later shining, dark green, glabrous, with distinct midrib and veins. Petiole 1–2 cm long, swollen at base, flattened on upper surface. Inflorescence a drooping, terminal, many-flowered panicle, up to 25 cm long. Flowers male or hermaphrodite, fragrant. Sepals 5, lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 4–15 × 1–2 mm, pubescent. Petals 5, linear-lanceolate, 7–13 × 1–1.5 mm, reflexed, whitish at anthesis, later turning pinkish-red. Stamens 10. Fruit a kidney-shaped nut, c. 3 × 1.2 cm, with hard, resinous, grey-brown pericarp; pedicel greatly enlarged and swollen, forming a shiny, red to yellow, soft, juicy, pear-shaped, fruit-like cashew apple, 10–20 × 4–8 cm. Seeds kidney-shaped.
Traditional medicinal use
Functionality
Functional constituents
Prefers high temperatures and well-distributed rainfall. Propagated through the germination of fully mature nuts; 1-year old seedlings are then transplanted to permanent sites. Commonly cultured for nut production through air layering or grafting of high-yield cultivars.
Young shoots and leaves are collected during the rainy season and consumed fresh in hot, spicy dishes such as nam phrik kapi (dipping sauce with shrimp paste) or som tam (papaya salads). Seeds contain 45% oil and 20% protein, and are rich in potassium.
Caution:  Fruit kernel sap is acrid; a strong irritant.
Leaves
Leaves