Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment  Drink  Tea

Fruit - raw or cooked. One of the most popular fruits in the world, it is commonly eaten raw, is juiced and can also be prepared in a variety of ways such as in chutneys, jams, pickles etc[200 , 301 ]. The dried, unripe fruit is ground into a powder and used as a flavouring in Indian cuisine[301 ]. They are an ingredient of the spice mixture chat masala[301 ]. A variable fruit, ranging in colour from green through orange and yellow to red, it can be anything from 50g to 1.5kg in weight[296 ]. The fruit is usually 8 - 12cm long, but can be up to 30cm[303 ]. The fruit contains about 15% sugars, 0.5% protein and significant amounts of vitamins A, B and C[200 ]. The seeds are used in the preparation of dodol, or pudding[301 ]. A starch and an edible fat can be obtained from them[301 ]. The kernels are important as a famine food in India, but the astringency has to be removed by boiling, roasting and soaking them for a long time[303 ]. Flowers[301 ]. Young leaves[301 ]. Cooked as a vegetable[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.
Anthelmintic  Antiasthmatic  Antidiarrhoeal  Antihaemorrhoidal  Antirheumatic  Antiscorbutic  Antitussive  Aphrodisiac  
Astringent  Diuretic  Dysentery  Hypotensive  Mouthwash  Odontalgic  Skin  
Stimulant  Stings  Styptic  Vitamin C

The leaves are astringent and odontalgic[348 ]. An infusion is drunk to reduce blood pressure and as a treatment for conditions such as angina, asthma, coughs and diabetes[272 , 307 , 348 ]. Externally, the leaves are used in a convalescent bath[348 ]. A mouthwash made from the leaves is effective in hardening the gums and helping to treat dental problems[272 , 307 , 348 ]. The leaves are used to treat skin irritations[272 , 307 ]. The charred and pulverized leaves are used to make a plaster for removing warts and also act as a styptic[303 ]. The seed is astringent, antidiarrhoeal; anthelmintic when roasted[348 ]. It is used to treat stubborn colds and coughs, obstinate diarrhoea and bleeding piles[303 ]. The pulverised seed is made into a sweetened tea and drunk, or taken as powders, for treating dysentery[348 ]. The seeds are ground up and used to treat scorpion stings[307 ]. The bark is astringent, homeostatic and antirheumatic[303 ]. Used in the treatment of haemorrhage, diarrhoea and throat problems[307 , 348 ]. When incised, the bark yields an oleoresin which is stimulant, sudorific and antisyphilitic[348 ]. The stem is astringent. It is used to treat diarrhoea and to remedy stomach-ache[348 ]. The roots are diuretic[272 ]. The flowers are aphrodisiac[307 ]. The fruit is antiscorbutic and antidysenteric[348 ].

Charcoal  Containers  Dye  Fuel  Furniture  Repellent  Teeth  Wood

Backyard tree. Large shade tree. Street tree. Large flowering tree, Public open space. Specimen. Other Uses The bark and the leaves are the source of a yellowish-brown dye used for silk[303 , 307 ]. The flowers are used to repel mosquitoes[307 ]. The slender branches are used as toothbrushes to treat toothache[272 ]. Heartwood is pale yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, darkening on exposure, not clearly demarcated from the pale yellowish-brown sapwood. Grain somewhat wavy, texture moderately coarse; freshly cut wood is scentless. The wood is used for many purposes, including indoor construction, meat-chopping blocks, furniture, carpentry, flooring, boxes, crates and boat building (canoes and dugouts)[303 ]. The wood is a source of 'machang' timber[895 ]. We do not have a specific description for the wood of this speices, but a general description of machang timber is as follows:- The heartwood is light brown or light grey brown, occasionally with chocolate or black streaky coreword; it is not clearly differentiated from the wide band of sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse to coarse and even; the grain interlocked and wavy. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; moderately hard; not durable under exposed conditions, being susceptible to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. The wood seasons somewhat rapidly with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It can be worked with ordinary tools, there is a slight difficulty resawing when green, but is easy when dry; planing is easy but the surface produced is moderately smooth with grain pick-up on the radial side; nailing and screwing is excellent; gluing is correct. The wood is suitable for light construction, turnery, flooring, interior panelling, boxes, crates, pallets and plywood manufacture[895 ]. Corewood can be used for decorative veneer production[848 , 895 ]. With a calorific value of 4200 kcal/kg, the wood makes excellent charcoal and firewood[303 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest