Common Name:

General Information

Terminalia argentea is a deciduous tree with a dense, spreading crown; it can grow 8 - 16 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 50cm in diameter and unbranched for more than half the tree's height[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood - the wood is also traded. It can also be grown as a pioneer species for re-establishing woodland. An ornamental tree, it can be grown in gardens and along streets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador.

Habitat

Semideciduous forest and savannah, in both primary and secondary formations, favouring hill tops and high slopes where the soil is well-drained[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A gum resin obtained from the bark is purgative[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A pioneer species within its native range, it can be used in reforestation schemes where it can be successful in poor and dry soils[].

Other Uses

The yellowish-brown heartwood is clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is medium, the grain straight to interlocked, lustre medium. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, with good mechanical properties and moderate natural durability[, ]. It is used in general construction for purposes such as beams, scantlings, laths, floorboards, door and window frames etc[, ].

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 in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 50 days[]. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers[].
The seed has a viability in excess of 8 months in storage[].

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