Common Name:

General Information

Terminalia australis is a deciduous tree with a small crown; it can grow 4 - 12 metres tall. The crooked bole can be 20 - 50cm in diameter[, ].
The tree yields a timber with specialized uses and so is often harvested from the wild. It is also planted along rivers to stabilize the banks.

Known Hazards

Constant exposure to the wood can cause contact dermatitis[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, southern and eastern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

A pioneer species, found in the more open areas of gallery forests and also in steep ravines[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	7.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[].
A slow-growing plant, even when small[].
The tree is very susceptible to damage by ants, which attack and cut the young shoots for food[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is planted along the sides of rivers to stabilize the soil[].

Other Uses

The yellowish wood is smooth-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy, moderately hard, flexible, and durable, with good resistance to wood-eating insects. It is used principally to make precision wooden objects such as rulers, buttons and chess pieces[, ].

We do not have any more specific information on the wood from this species. However, all the Terminalia species from the tropical Americas are said to have similar woods[], the following is a general description of that wood:-
The heartwood is a light yellow to yellow brown, sometimes with reddish veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 3 - 8cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain is straight. The wood is heavy to very heavy; hard to very hard; elastic; moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers and moderately resistant to fungi and termites. It seasons slowly with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable to stable in service. It has a fairly high blunting effect, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good if the holes are pre-bored; gluing is poor. A good quality wood, it is used for high quality furniture, cabinet making, arched goods, turnery, industrial flooring, ship building, joinery, tool handles, moulding, veneer etc[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak the seed for 24 - 36 hours in warm water and then sow in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 60 days[].

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