Wild Cashew Nut: Semecarpus Anacardium - SHASYADHARA AGRICULTURE

There is a wild species of Cashew (Cashew nut) or ‘Kaju (Kaaju, काजू) in Hindi’, Known as Wild Cashew Nut or Bhelwan (भेलवां, in local Indian language) and scientifically known as Semecarpus anacardium, is a flowering and fruiting tropical and sub-tropical plant/tree.

General Introduction

Common Name	Wild Cashew Nut
English Name	Wild Cashew Nut
Hindi Name	Jungli Kaaju (Kaju) or जंगली काजू
Other Names	Bhelwan, bhelwa or भेलवां in local Indian languages, e.g., some parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha
Scientific Name	Semecarpus anacardium
Family	Anacardiaceae
Species	*Anacarium excelsum *Semecarpus anacardium
2n	Various: 24, 30, 40, 42
Type	Flowering and Fruiting tree

INDEX

1.	Introduction
2.	Occurrence
3.	Botany
4.	Relation
5.	Characteristics
6.	Propagation
7.	Flowering and Fruiting
8.	Comparison Between Cultivated and Wild Species of Cashew
9.	Image Gallery

1. Introduction

**Image**: A full grown wild cashew nut tree

The name काजू or kaaju is derived from the Portuguese name Caju which in turn originated from Acaju, the name given to cashew by the tapi Indians of Brazil.

The plant takes many years to become a big tree. It is an evergreen tree.

Semecarpus anacardium is Subcontinental species while Anacarium excelsum is species from Tropical America.

Related Species (Ref. 01)

A. occidentale, A. microcarpum, A. tenuifolium, A. rondonianum, A. negrense, A. kuhlmannianum, A. amilcarianum, A. parvifolium, A. corymbosum, A. microsepalum, A. sruceanum, A. rhinocarpus, A. nanum, A. mediterraneum, A. humile, A. giganteum, A. encardium, A. curatellaefolium, A. brasiliense, A. orthonianum, A. phemilium, A. macrocarpa.

Also Read: Cashewnut: Propagation and Cultivation, Processing, Research Work

Other Plant/Tree With Same Family

Common Name	Scientific Name
Cultivated Cashew	Anacardium occidentale
Mango	Mangifera indica
Hog Plum	Spondias mombin
Pepper Tree	Schinus molle
Mastic Tree	Pistacia lentiscus
Pistacia Nut	Pistacia vera
Poison Ivy	Toxicodendron radicans
Sumac	Rhus coriaria
Marula	Sclerocarya birrea
Smoke Tree	Cotinus spp.

2. Occurrence

The tree is commonly found in the tropical and sub-tropical jungles (forest) of India. And, Out side Asia, the other wild species such as anacardium excelsum is also found in some countries of South America such as Ecuador.

3. Botany

Tree Trunk: The tree trunk is strong and rarely branched. The strait tree trunk have many branches over the main trunk. It is rough in appearance. Twigs are fragile, and can easily be broken.

Leaves

The leaves are simple, alternate, oval-shaped. The length of the biggest leave ranges from 25 – 35 cm long. And, the width of the broadest leaf is 15 – 20 cm.

Flowers

*The flowers are produced in a panicle up to 25 -35 cm long.
*Flowers are small. The colour of the flower is pale green to white.
*Later on flowers turn pink.

Fruit

*The fruit is 3 – 3.5 cm (1.18 – 1.37 inch) long. It is the length of whole fruit including nut and apple.
*Kidney-shaped.
*The fruit is a drupe.
*Ripening occurs in March to May. In middle India, ripening can be seen from early January.

Also Read: Horticulture Multiple Choice Objective Questions and Answers: Horticulture Entrance Exam

4. Relation

It is closely related with the cultivated species of cashew or cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale).

5. Characteristics

The fruits (both the nut and the apple) is highly toxic to humans. Although, it can be eaten after roasting.

6. Propagation

Propagation can be done by seed.

7. Flowering and Fruiting

Flowering: Sept. – October to February.

Fruiting: Fruiting can be seen from December.

Pollination: Pollination is done by…

*Flies.

*Bees.

*Tree ants.

*Wind.

8. Comparison Between Cultivated and Wild Species of Cashew

Comparison Points	Wild Cashew	Cultivated Cashew
Apple Size	Small	Too much bigger than wild species
Nut Size	Small	Bigger
Tree Size	Bigger	Smaller
Toxicity	Higher	very low
Resistant to insect-pests	Resistant	Vulnerable
Cultivation	Not cultivated	Cultivated on commercial scale

9. Image Gallery

Image 9.1: Unripe Fruits With Leaves

Image 9.2: Ripe and Unripe Fruits With Leaves

Also Read: Cultivation Practice for African Marigold

Last Updated: 17-04-2021

References

01 wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacardium