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Terminalia molinetii M. Gómez

Family Name:	Combretaceae
Common Name:	Spiny Black Olive, Dwarf Geometry Tree, Spiny Bucida, Ming Tree

Full Sun

Little Water

Moderate Water

Herb or Spice

Coastal Plant

Indoor Plant

Suitable for Bonsai

Drought Tolerant

Shrub

Tree

Bucida molineti, closeup view of flowers & fruits

Bucida molineti, view of mature leaves, new reddish leaves, flowers & fruits

Bucida molineti, closeup view of leaves & underside

Bucida molineti, underside of leaf layer, showing spines & hexaogonal gaps caused by overlapping stems

Bucida molineti, view of leaves, flowers & fruits

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub, Tree (Small (6m-15m), Shrubby (1m-5m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Umbrella
Maximum Height	3 m to 7 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Caribbean, USA (Florida)
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Shrub or small tree, up to 7m height. Leaves small (0.6-2cm long x 0.5cm wide), glossy dark green above, lighter green below, young leaves reddish; leathery, produced in whorls at nodes, clustered at branch tips, semi-deciduous. Flowers tiny (0.5cm across), creamy white, in clusters. Fruits small clustered drupes (0.5cm), ovoid, angled, ripen from green to tan to brown in 2 months.Stiff spines found along stems and at base of leaves. Crown may be layered / tiered when plant is young, but becomes oval to round, denser and flattened out with age. Crown exhibits lacy silhouette due to horizontally-zigzag branching pattern.Slow-growing. Prefers frequent fertilization. Grown as bonsai (thereby known as Ming Tree in America), and suitable as specimen plants in containers.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Food (Herb or Spice) Others: Bark mixed with bark of Rhizophora mangle to stop bleeding.

Others - Plant Morphology

Shrub or small tree, up to 7m height. Leaves small (0.6-2cm long x 0.5cm wide), glossy dark green above, lighter green below, young leaves reddish; leathery, produced in whorls at nodes, clustered at branch tips, semi-deciduous. Flowers tiny (0.5cm across), creamy white, in clusters. Fruits small clustered drupes (0.5cm), ovoid, angled, ripen from green to tan to brown in 2 months.Stiff spines found along stems and at base of leaves. Crown may be layered / tiered when plant is young, but becomes oval to round, denser and flattened out with age. Crown exhibits lacy silhouette due to horizontally-zigzag branching pattern.Slow-growing. Prefers frequent fertilization. Grown as bonsai (thereby known as Ming Tree in America), and suitable as specimen plants in containers.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Food (Herb or Spice)
Others: Bark mixed with bark of Rhizophora mangle to stop bleeding.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Container Planting, Coastal, Suitable for Bonsai, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Beachfront / Shoreline
Thematic Landscaping	Rockery / Desert Garden, Formal Garden
Usage Hazard - Cons	Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch

Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks	Stiff spines (1-3cm) found along stems & base of leaf whorls
Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks	Likes moist soils.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, [Remarks] (Drought-tolerant when established.)
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Little Water, [Remarks] (Drought-tolerant when established.)
Plant Growth Rate	Slow

Rootzone Tolerance	Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Drought Tolerant
Maintenance Requirements	Low
Pruning	Prune to shape into bonsai.
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Drought / Semi-Deciduous
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny, Leathery, Thick

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Red
Foliar Modification	Spine (axillary)
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Whorled
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Oval)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Obtuse, Rounded
Foliar Base	Cuneate
Typical Foliar Area	Nanophyll ( 0.25cm2 - 2.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Rough, greyish brown. Terminal stem twigs reddish.
Mature Bark Texture	Peeling / Flaking / Papery, Scaly

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)
Mature Bark Texture Remarks	Rough bark

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Flower Size - Remarks	Very small (0.5cm across)
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Drupe

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	438
Species ID	1734
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.