Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - cooked[418 ]. Eaten as a vegetable or in sauces[303 , 418 ].

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.
Antiinflammatory  Antitussive  Laxative  Odontalgic

The plant has 100 medicinal uses[214]. The violet tree is the most popular of all the traditional medicinal plants in South Africa, where it is used for almost every conceivable ailment[295 ]. It is also popularly used throughout its range. The roots are extremely poisonous, smell like wintergreen oil and contain methyl salicylate which may partly indicate why they have a wide diversity of uses, such as arrow poison in some parts of Africa including West Africa[295 ]. The plant is said to have 100 medicinal uses[214 ]. The roots and bark are taken orally either powdered or as infusions for treating chest complaints, headache, inflammation, abortion, ritual suicide, tuberculosis, infertility problems, venereal diseases and for constipation[295 ]. Toothache can also be relieved by chewing the roots[295 ]. Mixed roots of the violet tree and dwarf custard apple are used to treat gonorrhoea. Powdered roots or wood scrapings are used to treat headache by rubbing them on the forehead, while infusions from the roots are used to wash tropical ulcer[295 ]s. In Limpopo, the vhaVenda people use roots for mental disorders and as protection against children's illness during breastfeeding[295 ]. It is also believed that many African people use the powdered violet tree roots as a sexual boost for men[295 ]. The vhaVenda people mix the powdered root with mageu (maize or sorghum beverage) and it is given to a man to drink if he is sexually weak. In Zimbabwe, the roots are used to treat people who are believed to be possessed by evil spirits, for snakebite as well as for coughs when pounded with water and salt[295 ].

Basketry  Charcoal  Cosmetic  Fibre  Fuel  Hedge  Soap  String  Wood

Agroforestry Uses: An ornamental plant, it can be grown as a hedge[774 ]. Other Uses: The bark of the roots, or the pounded seeds, can be used as a soap for washing and bleaching items[295 , 774 ]. A fibre obtained from the inner bark can be used like cotton to weave a coarse cloth[308 ]. The fibre obtained from young branches is particularly strong and durable[303 , 774 ]. The fibre is said to be of a similar quality to flax (Linum usitatissimum)[46 ]. It is also used for fishing nets, baskets and strong threads that are used to sew bark cloth[295 ]. The seeds are rich in oil[774 ]. It is used cosmetically or as a furniture stain[303 ]. The roots at 350 ppm are 100% effective as a molluscicide[303 ].. The wood is light yellow with markedly dark growth rings. It is soft, spongy, but durable and resists the attacks of termites. It is liable to split upon drying. Of little value, it is used for poles, hut construction, brooms etc[303 , 774 ]. The wood makes a good fuel and is used to make charcoal[303 , 418 , 774 ]. Ornamental.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Hedge