Tamarindus indica , the tamarind, is an old-world tropical fruit-bearing evergreen tree originally from eastern tropical Africa but spread by man to India, Madagascar, Europe, Indonensia, the Caribbean, and even Florida. The name "tamarind" is from Tamr hindi , Arabic for "date of India." The leaves furnish a yellow or red dye and its fruit pulp is used in chutneys. The tree may reach a height of 24 m (80 ft) with a trunk diameter of 1.8 to 2.4 m (6 to 8 ft), but most examples in Madagascar are much smaller. The pod that develops from the purplish, yellow-striped flowers is 80 to 200 mm (3 to 8 in) long containing a brown, juicy, acidic pulp and 1 to 12 seeds. The pulp is high in sugar and vitamin C.

Alternative form for kili : tamarind.