It is a tree with a rather open canopy, up to 40 m tall. It is a tree with a rather open canopy, up to 40 m tall.
Flowers are generally dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) although occasionally some trees are monoecious.
The male flowers are tiny inconspicuous spikes borne on the ends of green twigs, while the female flowers are small brownish heads on the swollen ends of brownish twigs.
Uses
Root extracts are used for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhoea and stomach-ache.
The powdered bark is used for treating pimples on the face.
Since it is salt tolerant and grows in sand, the plant is used to control erosion along coastlines, estuaries, riverbanks and waterways.