Description: A small to medium evergreen tree with a spreading crown, leathery leaves and small flowers followed by cashew apples and nuts.

Identification: Thick leathery leaves; branched inflorescences; fleshy cashew apple; kidney-shaped nut attached externally.

Habitat & distribution: Tropical regions; widely cultivated in India and Kerala.

Uses / importance: Cashew nut is an important food crop. Cashew apple is edible and used for beverages and other products. The tree also has economic and ecological value.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Angiosperms
Clade – Eudicots
Order – Sapindales
Family – Anacardiaceae
Genus – Anacardium
Species – A. occidentale

Sources: Kew POWO; ICAR; India Biodiversity Portal.