Terminalia arenicola Byrnes

A tree which loses many of its leaves during the year. It grows to 6-12 m tall and spreads to 5 m across. The stem is erect and the branches are horizontal in layers. The bark has a checkered pattern. The crown of the tree is neat and compact. The leaves are simple, oval and broad. They are leathery and taper towards the point. The leaves are 10-20 cm long. They have a leaf stalk. There are small tufts of hairs near the veins. There are 2 nectar producing glands on the underside of the leaf near the leaf base. The flowers are white and not easily seen. The fruit are dark red or black and are oval berries. They are 2.5-5 cm long and about 3-4 cm across. They are carried on a simple unbranched stalk in the axils of leaves. The thin layer of flesh on the fruit is edible. There is one seed inside. The seed is edible.

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in rainforest in north east Queensland in Australia. It prefers light to medium soils. Often it grows near the beach front. It suits an open sunny position. It is drought resistant and salt tolerant. It is damaged by frost. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Plants can be grown from seed. The seed is slow to start to grow. It may take 10 weeks for seed to start to grow.