Terminalia spinosa Engl.

Tree up to 20 m. high; bark grey, longitudinally fissured; branchlets greyish or reddish brown; long shoots zigzag with occasional spur shoots; lateral shoots irregularly arranged, diverging at an obtuse angle, ending in a spur shoot and with 0–2 lateral spur shoots; spines 2(–3), frequently at base of spur shoots, up to l.5(–2) cm. long.. Leaves borne on the spur shoots; lamina broadly obovate, up to 4 cm. long and 3 cm. wide, apex rounded to subtruncate, emarginate, base cuneate, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; lateral nerves 4–5 pairs; petiole up to 5 mm. long.. Inflorescences of spikes up to 6 cm. long, borne on the spur shoots; peduncle sparsely to densely pubescent.. Flowers white or purplish, shortly pedicellate, glabrous outside.. Fruit reddish purple, oblong-elliptic, 2–3 cm. long, 1–2 cm. wide, apex emarginate, glabrous; apical peg absent; stipe 3 mm. long.

It is a tropical plant. It can grow from sea level to 1,770 m above sea level. In Somalia it grows between 10 and 275 m above sea level. It grows in woodland. It can grow in arid places.

The bark is used to make a tea like drink.