Common Name:

General Information

Terminalia latifolia is a tree with markedly horizontal branches, growing up to 30 metres tall. The bole is buttressed and can be 90cm or more in diameter. The bole is straight, well formed, and usually clear of branches for about 15 metres[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber and edible seed, which are mainly used locally.
The plant is rare in many parts of its range, though in Jamaica the tree appears to be locally common in relict woodland, especially in the western parishes. It is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Caribbean - Jamaica.

Habitat

Damp glade sites of limestone districts, most frequently at elevations of 300 - 600 metres, it is seldom found at lower elevations[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is most commonly found at elevations from 300 - 600 metres. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is 1,500mm or more[].

Edible Uses

The kernel of the seed is eaten[]. The white kernel has an almond-like flavour[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark is used in Jamaican tanneries but has a relatively low tannin content[].

The light buff to gray wood is soft, straight grained, moderately heavy, medium hard, and splits rather easily[]. It is not very durable in contact with the ground but is durable when used above the ground or in interior work. No specific information is available regarding the timber’s resistance to termites and marine borers - however, other species of Terminalia vary from resistant to very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites, and are generally not considered resistant to marine borers[]. The most important uses for the wood in Jamaica are in building boards, shingles, and barrel staves. It, is also used for flooring, rafters, lath, window frames, and doors[].

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 -

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