Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit
Edible Uses: Drink

Fruit - usually eaten raw, the fruit can also be stewed, made into jams, jellies, confections etc[296 , 301 ]. A sweet flavour with a crisp and crunchy texture, the fruit is somewhat to very juicy and has a delicate, rose-water fragrance[200 , 296 , 301 ]. When cooked with custards or puddings, they impart a rose-like flavour[301 ]. The large, hollow seed cavity is sometimes utilized to stuff the fruits and bake them [377 ].The fruit has to be handled very carefully after harvesting because it bruises easily and then loses its crispness[306 ]. The fruit is up to 4cm x 6cm[200 ]. Around the tropical world, the fruit is mostly eaten out-of-hand by children. It is seldom marketed. In the home, it is sometimes stewed with some sugar and served as dessert[303 ]. The fruit can be distilled to yield a rosewater that is said to be equal to the best obtained from rose petals[701 ]. Flowers - candied[301 ].

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.
Antiasthmatic  Antidiarrhoeal  Antirheumatic  Astringent  Cathartic  Diuretic  Dysentery  Epilepsy  
Expectorant  Febrifuge  Ophthalmic  Skin  Tonic

Several parts of the tree are used medicinally as a tonic or a diuretic[306 ]. In India, the fruit is regarded as a tonic for the brain and liver. An infusion of the fruit acts as a diuretic[303 ]. A sweetened preparation of the flowers is believed to reduce fever[303 ].. The seeds are employed against diarrhoea, dysentery and catarrh[303 ]. In Nicaragua, it has been claimed that an infusion of roasted, powdered seeds is beneficial to diabetics. They say in Colombia that the seeds have an anaesthetic property[303 ]. The leaf decoction is applied to sore eyes, also serves as a diuretic and expectorant and treatment for rheumatism[303 ]. The juice of macerated leaves is taken as a febrifuge[303 ]. Powdered leaves have been rubbed on the bodies of smallpox patients for the cooling effect[303 ]. The bark contains 7-12.4% tannin. It is astringent, emetic and cathartic[272 , 303 ]. The decoction is administered to relieve asthma, bronchitis and hoarseness[303 ]. Cuban people believe that the root is an effective remedy for epilepsy[303 ].

Basketry  Charcoal  Cosmetic  Dye  Essential  Fencing  Fuel  Furniture  Hedge  Shelterbelt  Soil stabilization  Tannin  Weaving  Wood

Agroforestry Uses: If the young plants are pruned severely, they become very dense and form an effective if not particularly handsome wind-break hedge[331 , 790 ]. Plants develop massive root systems and can be useful for stabilizing soils on river banks[790 ]. However, the dense top growth can stop any plant growth underneath, and this has sometimes led to sheet erosion unless the crown is thinned[790 ]. Bees produce a heavy, consistent flow of amber honey from the flowers[790 ]. Other Uses A yellow coloured essential oil, important in the perfume industry, is derived from the leaves by distillation[306 ]. It contains, among other properties, 26.84% dl-a-pinene and 23.84% l-limonene, and can be resorted to as a source of these elements for use in the perfume industry[303 ]. The bark contains 7% tannin on a dry weight basis and is used by local villagers for tanning and dyeing purposes[306 ]. The bark also yields a brown dye[303 ]. The flexible branches split easily. They are valued for making wattle, hoops for large sugar casks, and also are valued for weaving large baskets[303 , 790 ]. The heartwood is dark-red or brown; the sapwood is white. The wood is straight and close-grained, medium-heavy to heavy, strong. It is not durable in the ground and is prone to attack by dry wood termites[303 , 306 ]. It is usually too small for many purposes, but is commonly used for fenceposts, plant stakes etc, and larger pieces can be used to make furniture, spokes for wheels, arms for easy chairs, knees for all kinds of boats, beams for construction, frames for musical instruments (violins, guitars, etc.), and packing cases. It is also popular for general turnery[303 , 790 ]. The wood makes an excellent fuel and charcoal[303,790].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Coppice  Hedge  Scented Plants