Edible Parts: Fruit  Seed  Shoots
Edible Uses: Gum

Edible portion: Fruit, Seeds, Sprouts. Fruit - raw or cooked. The deep yellow pulp has a sweet aroma and taste[ 303 ]. The very ripe fruits can be eaten raw, but they, and the immature fruits, are more commonly roasted or baked[ 303 ]. Very nutritious[ 303 ]. The fruit is a small fleshy syncarp, cylindrical, kidney shaped or asymmetrical, about 15cm long and weighing about 500g[ 303 ]. Seed - cooked[ 354 ]. The roasted seed has a flavour much like a chestnut[ 354 ]. Cooked sprouted seeds are a delicacy on some atolls[ 303 ]. The seeds are high in protein, carbohydrates, low in fat, and a good source of minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin A[ 303 ]. The large, dark brown, shiny seeds are about 15mm long, with little or no endosperm. There are up to 15 seeds per fruit[ 303 ]. The latex obtained from the shoots and trunk can be used to make a chewing gum[ 303 ].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidiarrhoeal  Antifungal  Astringent  Dysentery  Purgative  Skin  Stomachic

All parts of the plant are used medicinally, especially the latex, leaf tips, and inner bark[ 303 ]. The diluted latex is taken internally to treat diarrhoea, stomach-aches, and dysentery[ 303 ]. Applied externally, the latex is commonly used to treat skin ailments and fungus diseases such as thrush[ 303 ]. It is massaged into the skin to treat broken bones and sprains and is plastered on the spine to relieve sciatica[ 303 ]. The crushed leaves are commonly used as a poultice to treat skin ailments and fungus diseases such as thrush[ 303 ]. The sap from the crushed petioles (leaf stalks) is used to treat ear infections or sore eyes[ 303 ]. The root is astringent and used as a purgative[ 303 ]. When macerated, it is used as a poultice for skin ailments[ 303 ]. The bark is used to treat headaches[ 303 ].

Adhesive  Containers  Fibre  Fuel  Gum  Insecticide  Mulch  Plant support  Soil stabilization  String  Waterproofing  Wood

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Agroforestry Uses: The plant naturally occurs on steep ridges, cliffs, and shallow calcareous soils where it acts as a soil stabilizer[ 303 ]. It can be inter-planted with a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops such as yam, banana, coconut, taro, papaya, sugarcane, arrowroot, beach hibiscus, Indian mulberry, citrus, soursop, medicinal plants, aroids, ginger and noni, amongst others[ 303 ]. The leaves provide abundant mulch for the tree and other plants growing beneath the canopy[ 303 ]. It is an ideal tree for home gardens on atolls because of its adaptability to calcareous soils and saline conditions and especially for the beneficial shade it produces. The tree can also be used as a trellis for yam[ 303 ]. Other Uses A sticky white latex is present in all parts of the tree[ 303 ]. It is used as a chewing gum, an adhesive, and to caulk canoes[ 303 ]. A fibre is obtained from the inner bark. It is used to make strong cordage used for fishing[ 303 ]. The inner bark was formerly used to make bark cloth (tapa). Sections of the bark were hammered flat with a wooden mallet onto a wooden surface. The more the bark was beaten, the finer the cloth that was made[ K ]. Dried male flowers can be burned to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects[ 303 ]. The flexible leaves are used to wrap foods for cooking in earth ovens, and as plates[ 303 ]. The wood is light in weight, flexible, easy to work[ 303 ]. It is used to make small canoes, carve into statues, bowls, fishing floats, and other objects, although the wood needs to be protected from direct sunlight[ 303 ]. Trunks of larger trees are used to make dug-out canoes[ 354 ]. The wood is fast burning, but generally older, less productive trees are used for fuel[ 303 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest