The cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen tree or shrub native to northeastern Brazil but now widely cultivated in tropical regions around the world. It is known for producing cashew nuts and cashew apples.

Botanical Description
Family: Anacardiaceae (the same family as mangoes and poison ivy)

Type: Evergreen tree or large shrub

Height: Typically 5–12 meters (16–40 feet), though dwarf varieties are shorter and easier to harvest

Lifespan: Can live up to 30–40 years under proper cultivation

Key Features
Leaves
Shape: Oval or obovate (egg-shaped)

Size: 10–20 cm long

Texture: Leathery and thick with smooth edges

Arrangement: Alternate

Flowers
Color: Small, pale green to pinkish-red

Type: Panicles (clusters)

Gender: Mostly bisexual, some male flowers present

Fruit
Cashew Apple (pseudofruit):

Color: Yellow, red, or orange when ripe

Texture: Juicy and fibrous

Taste: Sweet and slightly astringent

Use: Eaten fresh or used in juices, jams, and alcohol (e.g., feni in Goa, India)

Cashew Nut (true fruit, actually a seed):

Location: Attached to the bottom of the cashew apple

Shell: Hard, kidney-shaped shell containing caustic oil (anacardic acid)

Processing: Must be roasted or steamed to remove toxic shell oil before eating

Growing Conditions
Climate: Tropical to subtropical; frost-sensitive

Soil: Well-drained sandy or lateritic soils; tolerant of poor soil

Sunlight: Full sun

Water: Drought-tolerant once established, but better yields with moderate watering

Uses
Cashew Nuts: Eaten as snacks, used in cooking and baking, high in protein and healthy fats

Cashew Apple: Used for juice, fermented drinks, and livestock feed

Timber: Wood used for low-grade furniture or firewood

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL): Used in industrial applications like brake linings and paints

Would you like a labeled diagram or image to go with the description?