Terminalia prunioides is a small, deciduous tree that can sometimes be multi-stemmed, growing 2.5 - 15 metres tall. The bole can be about 40cm in diameter.
A plant of the drier tropics where it is found at elevations up to 1,400 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean maximum and minimum annual temperatures are within the range 20 - 35°c, though it can tolerate 15 - 40°c
It is only found wild in frost-free areas
It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 450 - 900mm, though can tolerate from 400 - 1,000mm
Grows best in a sunny positionSucceeds in most well-drained soils of at least moderate fertility
The tree is sometimes found wild on saline soils[
Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 8, tolerating 5.5 - 8.5
The flowers have a strong and unpleasant smell. Each inflorescence contains bisexual and male flowers, male
flowers towards the apex, bisexual flowers towards the base[
An edible gum exudes from the tree
A tea is made from the fruits and leaves
The fruits are generally preferred, because too many leaves make the tea bitter
A decoction (part not specified) is used to relieve postnatal abdominal pains
The bark is chewed to treat coughs, sore throat and stomach-aches
The roots are chewed to treat colds
A root decoction is taken to treat constipation, cough and colds
