Common Name:

General Information

Terminalia reitzii is a deciduous tree with a dense, but relatively small, crown; it can grow 10 - 15 metres tall. The usually crooked bole can be unbranched for more than half the trees height and around 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its useful timber. An ornamental plant, it could be used in general landscaping[].
The plant is restricted in range to a small area of the Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. Due to the widespread destruction of the forest due to human activities, the plant classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, mainly in more open and secondary growth areas, favouring moist, humus-rich soils on gentle slopes[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a well-drained but moist, humus-rich soil[].
Young plants have a fast rate of growth[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is medium-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy, hard to cut, with moderate mechanical properties and moderately resistant to wood-eating organisms. It is used in general construction, mainly as floor boards[].

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 low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 60 days[].

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