My source, well known book L. H. Bailey "Manual of Cultivated Plants" writes that the generic name Tamarindus is derived from the Arabic Tamar-Hindi meaning "Indian Date". This is also confirmed by web information:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080313220541AA9Noxo "Persians and the Arabs who called it "tamar hindi" (Indian date, from the date-like appearance of the dried pulp), giving rise to both its common and generic names. Unfortunately, the specific name, "indica", also perpetuates the illusion of Indian origin. The fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to the Greeks in the 4th Century B.C." http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tamarind.html "Native to tropical Africa, the tree grows wild throughout the Sudan and was so long ago introduced into and adopted in India that it has often been reported as indigenous there also, and it was apparently from this Asiatic country that it reached the Persians and the Arabs who called it *"tamar hindi" *(Indian date, from the date-like appearance of the dried pulp), giving rise to both its common and generic names. Unfortunately, the specific name, *"indica", *also perpetuates the illusion of Indian origin. The fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to the Greeks in the 4th Century B.C." The source Tamarind Islands comes nowhere in picture. -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Stephen A <[email protected]>wrote: > Dear Pankaj, > > Btw, Its great to know more about a common plant which has been used as > condiment in our culinary preparations. > Can you just throw some light on Tamarind Islands because I couldn't locate > it on the web. > One such island is located near Thailand but it is far away place from its > native of tropical Africa. > > So, can you just explain where this island is located!!! > > Regards, > > Stephen... > > On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 10:58 PM, Dr. Pankaj Kumar <[email protected] > > wrote: > >> Just wanted to add one info. Many believe that the plant is originated >> in India as stated by Linnaeus too. But the plant is supposed to be >> originally from Tamarind Island. This generic and specific epithet is >> one of the few unique ones as both genus and species are based on name >> of a place. There are very few such examples other than this, like, >> India arunachalensis an Orchid. >> >> Nice pics BTW. >> >> Regards >> Pankaj >> > > > > -- > Think about the Environment before printing this e-mail! ΓΌ > +----------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------+ > Think B4U Print > 1 ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere > 3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water > +----------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------+ > "Lets Protect What We Enjoy" > "When the last tree is cut n the last river is poisoned, man will realize > that s/he cannot eat her/his money" > If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take > any chances - Anonymous >
