Terminalia catappa L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, 2 (1767)
Latinized version of local Malay name 'katapang'.

Synonyms
Myrobalanus catappa Kuntze, Terminalia catappa var. macrocarpa Hassk., Terminalia catappa var. rhodocarpa Hassk., Terminalia catappa var. chlorocarpa Hassk., Terminalia latifolia Blanco, Terminalia mauritiana (non Lamk.) Blanco, Terminalia moluccana Lamk.

Description
Mid-canopy tree up to 35 m tall and 40 cm dbh. Twigs densely covered with leaf scars. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, crowded at twig tips. Flowers ca. 4 mm in diameter, white to yellow, placed in spikes. Fruits ca. 55 mm long, yellow-reddish, fleshy drupe, dispersed both by sea and animals (eaten by flying foxes).

Ecology
In coastal forests, usually on sandy beaches up to 10 m altitude.

Uses
Often planted as a shade tree. The timber is used for general construction purposes. The kernel of the fruit edible and contains a colourless, fatty oil similar to almond oil. The bark contains tannin and is used against dysentery and thrush. The leaves act as a sudorific and are applied against  rheumatic joints. Bark and leaves are used for tanning leather.

Distribution
Tropical Asia, northern Australia and Polynesia.

Local names in Borneo
Ketapong, Taliasmi.