Common Name:

General Information

Terminalia dichotoma is a semideciduous tree with a large, dense, oval crown; it can grow 10 - 18 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its useful timber. It can be used for landscaping in parks and large gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean - Trinidad.

Habitat

Amazon rainforest, in areas not subject to seasonal inundation, in moist soils[]. Creek and marsh forests[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun and in partial shade[]. Prefers a moist to wet soil[].
Young plants have a rapid rate of growth[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is of medium-texture, straight-grained, moderately heavy, hard to cut, with a moderate resistance to wood-eating organisms. It is used in construction for purposes such as beams, scantlings, laths, parquet flooring and floorboards; it is also used to make furniture[].

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 germination rate of less than 20% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 50 days[].

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