[2][3] It is a prominent part of both dry and moist deciduous forests in southern India up to 1000 m. Common names are asna; saj or saaj; Indian laurel; marutham (Tamil); matti (Kannada); ain (Marathi); taukkyan (Burma); sadar, matti or marda (India); asana (Sri Lanka); and casually crocodile bark due to the characteristic bark pattern.

The wood is coarse, fairly straight grained, dull to somewhat lustrous and without any smell or taste.

[5] Terminalia tomentosa has a remarkable attribute: some members of the species store water in the dry season.

[6] The wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, joinery, paneling, specialty items, boat-building, railroad cross-ties (treated), decorative veneers and for musical instruments (e.g. for guitar fretboard).

(Other text books identify the Azadirachta indica as the Bodhi tree of Tissa Buddha.)