Once established, the tree is quite competitive with weeds. Though somewhat tolerant of fire, it is not so resistant as Eucalyptus. Distribution Native to the savannas of New Guinea, islands of the Torres Strait, and northern Australia, it has been widely introduced, e.g. in Fiji, India, Indonesia, Java, Malaysia, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, the Soloman Islands, Uganda, and Zanzibar. With practically no maintenance it will grow on a wide range of deep and shallow soils, compacted clays, coral soils, laterites, limestone, mica schist, mine spoil, podzols, even sand dunes and unstable slopes. Seeds, storable for 18 months in airtight containers, should be soaked in hot water for 24 hours.
Trees coppice poorly.
Indonesians have gotten some coppice when trees are cut at least 50 cm above the ground. When trees are felled, there is usually a swarm of seedlings, so cutover stands regenerate readily. Wood yields excellent charcoal that glows well and burns without smoke or sparks. Hawaiian grown material possesses N-fixing nodules. While no pest or disease problems are reported in Indonesia, insects and nematodes have been reported to attack seedlings in Zanzibar.