A small tree, (8-16 m), usually with a bent stem and often growing as wide as it is tall. It is usually long lived and is at home in sand dunes. Rainfall ranges from 175 - 1500 mm.
It is hardy to drought and frost but will not survive fire. It will not tolerate coppicing.
It is valuable as a windbreak species capable of absorbing heavy winds with belts of trees two or three deep. It is also valuable in erosion control along estuaries, river banks, waterways and coastal areas and is salt tolerant.
The heartwood is dark brown, very hard, very heavy (density of 1000 kg/cu m), strong and durable in the ground or submerged in saltwater. It can be used for house posts, rafters, electric poles, mine timbers, roofing shingles, tool handles, wagon wheels and for oars. It is considered one of the best firewoods (calorific value of about 4950 kcal/kg), will burn even when green and the ashes retain heat for a long period of time. It makes an exceptionally fine charcoal.
The bark, which contains 6 - 18% tannin is used extensively in Madagascar for tanning. It penetrates the hide quickly and furnishes a fairly plump, pliant and soft leather, pale reddish -brown in colour. The wood has been found to make a useful pulp.
Vanilla growers in Brazil use this tree as a companion to their crops because the soil below it seems to be always moist, supposedly from air moisture condensed on its needles and twigs.