Aam ka scientific name is Mangifera indica. It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, the same family as cashew and pistachio, and is native to the Indian subcontinent. In Hindi the vaigyanik naam is मैंगीफेरा इंडिका. Alphonso is a named cultivar of this one species.
You can compare boxes and sizes in our GI-tagged Ratnagiri Hapus.
Students, gardeners and curious cooks all ask the same thing: what is the scientific name of aam? The short answer is above. This page explains what each part of the name means, where mango sits in plant classification, and how varieties such as Hapus fit in. We sell Alphonso mangoes, so we also show where our fruit fits in the picture.
Aam ka scientific name: Mangifera indica
Every plant has a two-part scientific name, called a binomial. For mango it is Mangifera indica. The first word, Mangifera, is the genus. It joins the word for mango with a Latin ending meaning "bearing", so it reads roughly as "mango-bearing". The second word, indica, is the species name and points to India. The full name is often written Mangifera indica L., where the L stands for Carl Linnaeus, the botanist who formally named the species in 1753.
Two writing rules matter for school answers and exams:
- Write the genus with a capital letter and the species in lower case: Mangifera indica.
- Italicise the name in print, or underline it when you write by hand.
- The Hindi term is vaigyanik naam (वैज्ञानिक नाम). You may also see "botanical name" used for the same thing.
Botanical classification of mango
Botanists place mango in the flowering plants. This table shows the usual ranks from broad to specific.
| Rank | Mango |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae (plants) |
| Clade | Angiosperms (flowering plants) |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Family | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus | Mangifera |
| Species | Mangifera indica |
The genus Mangifera contains dozens of species, most of them from tropical South and Southeast Asia. Mangifera indica is the one grown for the mangoes sold across India and the world. Fruit, flowers, leaves and bark all belong to this same species, so they all share the same scientific name.
Names of aam in Indian languages
People often search for the scientific name in Hindi, because the question comes up in school. The table below keeps the scientific name constant and shows the common names that go with it. Spellings vary by region, so treat the transliterations as a guide.
| Language | Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | आम (Aam) | Mangifera indica |
| Marathi | आंबा (Amba) | Mangifera indica |
| Sanskrit | आम्र (Amra) | Mangifera indica |
| Tamil | Mambazham | Mangifera indica |
| Telugu | Mamidi pandu | Mangifera indica |
| Kannada | Mavina hannu | Mangifera indica |
| English | Mango | Mangifera indica |
The Hindi name aam also gives us terms such as aamras and aam papad. The fruit is often called the king of fruits, a title you will see in many languages.
The English word mango comes from the Portuguese manga, which came from Malayalam; the root is Tamil man plus kay (mango fruit).
Scientific name of mango leaf, flower and fruit
A common variation is "aam ki patti ka vaigyanik naam", the scientific name of the mango leaf. There is no separate name for the leaf. The leaf, the flower (baur in Hindi) and the fruit all come from Mangifera indica. Botanists describe parts of a plant by naming the organ, for example "Mangifera indica leaf" or "Mangifera indica fruit".
Mango leaves are used in India for festival garlands (toran) and in some traditional home practices. We do not make health claims for the leaf here. If you are interested in the nutrition of the fruit, our guide to mango health benefits covers general nutrient facts.
Scientific name of Alphonso and other mango varieties
Alphonso, called Hapus or Aapus in Maharashtra, is not a different species. It is a cultivar, a variety selected and propagated for its qualities. When botanists name a cultivar they put it in single quotes after the species, so the correct form is Mangifera indica 'Alphonso'. The same applies to Kesar, Pairi, Dasheri, Totapuri and the hundreds of other Indian varieties. They are all Mangifera indica, with different fruit size, colour, fibre and taste.
For Alphonso grown in the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt of the Konkan coast, there is also a Geographical Indication. We hold a GI Authorised User certificate AU/5974/GI/139/260 (GI No. 139), and you can read the details on our our published brand facts. A GI protects the name and region of the fruit. It does not change the scientific name.
We source fruit across 48 villages of the Ratnagiri and Devgad belt. If you want to taste the cultivar rather than read about it, you can choose between Ratnagiri Alphonso and authentic Devgad Alphonso. The 2027 season opens on 1 February 2027, and fresh Alphonso is harvested from about February to June, with the best supply from March to May. Outside the season, our Alphonso pulp tins are available all year.
The Alphonso variety is named after Afonso de Albuquerque. Mango grafting was introduced in Portuguese Goa by Jesuit missionaries.
Relatives of mango in the family Anacardiaceae
Anacardiaceae is a large plant family, and several well-known foods belong to it. Knowing this helps in biology answers and also explains a few kitchen facts.
- Cashew (Anacardium occidentale): the cashew nut grows on the end of a fleshy cashew apple. We list whole cashews such as W180 cashew nuts.
- Pistachio (Pistacia vera): see our pista kernel.
- Poison ivy and sumac are relatives too. Mango skin and sap contain compounds related to those in poison ivy, which is why a few sensitive people get a rash around the mouth from the peel.
That last point is useful when you peel mangoes for children. Wash the fruit, remove the skin, and eat the pulp. If someone in your family reacts to mango skin, ask a doctor or dietitian about it.
Why scientific names matter
Common names change from place to place. "Aam" in Delhi, "Amba" in Pune and "Mambazham" in Chennai all describe one plant, and "Hapus" or "Alphonso" names only one cultivar. A scientific name is the same in every country and every language, which is why books, nurseries, trade documents and research papers use it. If you ever need to confirm that two sources are talking about the same plant, the binomial is the safest check.
Quick answers to remember
- Scientific name of mango: Mangifera indica.
- Family: Anacardiaceae. Order: Sapindales.
- Scientific name of mango leaf: Mangifera indica (same plant).
- Scientific name of Alphonso: Mangifera indica 'Alphonso' (a cultivar).
- Origin: the Indian subcontinent, grown in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
See also: Aam Meaning in English
People also ask
What is the scientific name of mango?
The scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica. Mangifera is the genus and indica is the species. Linnaeus described it in 1753, and the full name is often written Mangifera indica L. The plant belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, and every mango variety, including Alphonso, shares this name.
What is the scientific name of the mango leaf?
There is no separate name for the leaf. A mango leaf comes from the same plant as the fruit, so its scientific name is also Mangifera indica. The same is true for the flower, bark and wood. Botanists name the organ, for example Mangifera indica leaf, while the species name stays the same.
What family does the mango belong to?
Mango belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, in the order Sapindales. This family also includes cashew, pistachio, and plants such as sumac and poison ivy. Members of the family often have resin canals in their tissues, which is why mango skin and sap can irritate some sensitive people.
What is the scientific name of Alphonso mango?
Alphonso is a cultivar of Mangifera indica, so the species name is the same as for every other mango. A cultivar name goes in single quotes, written Mangifera indica 'Alphonso'. In Maharashtra the fruit is called Hapus. Kesar, Pairi and Dasheri are other cultivars of the same species.
Related searches
- Alphonso mango (Hapus) online
- Kesar mango, another Mangifera indica cultivar
- What is Alphonso mango
- Mango health benefits
- Why mango is called the king of fruits
- Aam meaning and names
- Mango season dates
- Cashew nuts online
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia, Mango, accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Alphonso mango, accessed October 2026.
Written by Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in. Last reviewed October 2026.
