| Terminalia | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Terminalia catappa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Combretaceae |
| Genus: | Terminalia L. [1] |
| Synonyms [1] | |
26 synonyms
| |
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising nearly 300 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. [2] The genus name derives from the Latin word terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots. [3]
Axlewood (T. latifolia) is used for its wood and tannins and as a fodder. [4] African birch (T. leiocarpa) is used for its wood and to make yellow dye and medicinal compounds. [5] A yellow dyestuff produced from the leaves of T. leiocarpa has traditionally been used in West Africa to dye leather. [6]
There are 278 accepted Terminalia species as of July 2024 according to Plants of the World Online. [2] Selected species include: