Common Name:

General Information

Terminalia microcarpa is a semideciduous tree with a wide-spreading, semi-open crown, it can grow 10 - 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be unbranched for up to half the height of the tree, up to 200cm in diameter with buttresses at the base[, , , , ].
The edible fruit is commonly gathered from the wild for local use, whilst the timber is a major exportable hardwood in New Guinea. The tree also provides medicines and materials for local use. The tree is cultivated as a fruit crop on a home garden scale in the Philippines, where the fruit can sometimes be found for sale in local markets[]. The tree is sometimes used for avenue plantings[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and northern Australia.

Habitat

Around springs & swamps, rocky creek beds in western Australia, at elevations up to 750 metres[, ]. Primary forests at low elevations in the Philippines[]. Drier types of rainforest; rainforest margins and banks of large streams[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	35.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropical lowlands, where it can be found at elevations up to 750 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean maximum and minimum annual temperatures are within the range 22 - 38°c, though it can tolerate 12 - 45°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 850 - 1,900mm, though can tolerate from 600 - 2,100mm[]. It is found in monsoon forests, where there is a distinct dry season[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Plants are tolerant of shade[]. Prefers a well-drained, medium to light soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].
The fruit is usually harvested when it falls to the ground[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or boiled and made into jam[, , , ]. The fleshy fruit has a sour flavour[, ], it is traditionally eaten with salt. There is very little flesh, but it is very sweet[]. The plum-like fruit is 5cm long[].

Medicinal

The fruit is used in eyewashes in the same manner as the fruit of aroma (Acacia farnesiana)[, ]. It is also used in lotions in cases of humid herpetism or eczema[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree can be used in mixed shelterbelts[].

Other Uses

The tree is a source of tannins[].The bark contains 42% tannins[].

The wood colours water yellow[].

The heartwood is dark yellow, it is not clearly demarcated from the light yellow sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain as a whole straight, but slightly crossed and often with a short, very regular wave. The wood is moderately heavy; moderately hard; tough; not very durable for outdoor use, but fairly durable indoors. It can be used for cabinet work, furniture, ship planking, internal construction, flooring and turnery[, , , , ].
A potentially useful fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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