The acid-sweet, almond-like fruits are edible. The fruits are also used as a purgative. It is good for use for hedges and as an ornamental tree

In Novemer, 2021 the IUCN rated Ximenia americana as "LC" meaning it is of least concern. Despite this, Somaliland pastoralists and small farmers are concerned about itw declinging abundance.

Cuccuini, P. (1999) Olacaceae in Flora of Somalia 2: 127-128

Plants small trees or shrubs up to 7 m tall, usually with axillary spines; bark brown or grey to black; young branches glabrous or almost so. Leaves petiolate; petioles up to 6 mm long, grooved and usually pubescent on the upper surface; blades leathery, glabrous, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, 3-8 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, bases usually cuneate, tips obtuse to emarginate, midribs prominent on lower surfaces, impressed on upper surfaces. Inflorescences shortly pedunculate umbel- or raceme-like cymes. Flowers white to greenish, fragrant; pedicels 3-7 mm long, usually without bracteoles, glabrous or almost so; calyces small, with 4(-5) triangular lobes, slightly ciliate on the margins; petals 4(-5), 5-10 mm long, 1-2.5 mm wide, densely pilose inside, tips apiculate; stamens 8; filaments 2-4 mm long; anthers 2-4 mm long, up to 0.8 mm wide; styles 2.5-4.3 mm long. Fruits globose or ellipsoidal drupes up to 2.5 cm in diameter, glabrous, yellow to red-orange when ripe, mesocarp fleshy; seeds woody, up to 1.5 cm long and 1.2 cm wide.   

Ximenia americana grows in wooded grasslands and deciduous woodlands of riverine and coastal areas at elevations of 30-200 m. Cuccuini (1999) reported in the Flora of Somalia that Ximenia americana was known only from regions C2 and S2-3 of Somalia, but not from either of the regions that constitute Somaliland but Awale (2021) reports that declines in populations of the species in the Golis Range, which lies across regions N1 and N2 are are serious concern to people there. It also grows in Eritrea, Djibouti, and Ethiopia and is widespread in other parts of tropical Africa as well as Asia and America.

Except as mentioned,@Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Reproduced with permission.

Small tree or shrub up to 7 m high, generally with axillary spines. Small tree or shrub up to 7 m high, generally with axillary spines.