Edible Parts: Flowers  Inner bark  Leaves  Oil  Root  Seed  Seedpod
Edible Uses: Gum  Oil  Tea

Edible portion: Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, Seeds - oil, Gum. Flowers - cooked or pickled. They are highly valued as a curry vegetable[ 307 ]. The flower buds and the calyx of not fully opened flowers are eaten cooked as a vegetable[ 317 ]. Flowers are dried and pounded and used for bread also used in five flower tea. Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[ 404 ]. Ripe seeds are eaten roasted[ 301 , 317 ]. An edible fatty oil is obtained from the seed[ 301 ]. The seeds contain 22-25% oil. Young roots - The taproot is peeled and eaten raw or roasted[ 404 ]. Rich in starch[ 404 ]. Gum[ 404 ]. The buds, young pods and roots of seedling can be eaten cooked. The young bark is used as a famine food.

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.
Antipyretic  Antitussive  Astringent  Cholera  Demulcent  Diuretic  Dysentery  Hypoglycaemic  
Hypotensive  Leprosy  Mouthwash  Refrigerant  Stings  Tonic  Urinary


The flowers are astringent and refrigerant[ 404 ]. They are used to treat cutaneous troubles[ 404 ]. The young roots are diuretic and tonic[ 404 ]. They are used in the treatment of cholera, tubercular fistula, coughs, urinary complaints, nocturnal pollution, abdominal pain due to dysentery, and impotency[ 404 ]. The gum is astringent, demulcent and tonic[ 404 ]. It is used in the treatment of dysentery, haemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza and menorrhagia[ 404 ]. The leaves are hypotensive and hypoglycaemic[ 404 ]. A decotion of the shoots have reputedly been used to treat ulcers of the palate, syphilis, leprosy and spider or snake bites[ 404 ]. Combined with the roots of Moghania macrophylla, the fruit of Terminalia chebula and borax, they are used to treat enlarged spleen; they are combined with Capparis zeylanica and Carissa carandas to treat oedema; and with fenugreek to treat corns on the foot[ 404 ]. The seedlings have reputed antipyretic activity (when ground with a few leaves of fistula and Semecarpus anacardium). They are combined with Vitis spp. (part not specified) to treat carbuncle; and with Terminalia alata to treat haematuria[ 404 ]. The knots or the stem are used on bleeding gums (cooked in mustard oil with the bark of Zyzyphus rugosa and Ichnocarpus frutescens and then eaten[ 404 ]). The bark is reputedly used against cholera (usually combined with many other plants), pleurisy, stings and as a diuretic. It is used in bandages for lasting fractures or given in infusion for toothache before visiting the dentist[ 404 ].

Bedding  Containers  Fibre  Gum  Insulation  Oil  Packing  Pioneer  Soap making  String  Tannin  Waterproofing  Wood

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Large Flowering Tree, Public Open Spaces, Specimen, Xerophytic. Agroforestry Uses: A fast-growing plant, tolerant of full sun even when small and with a wide range of uses, it can be used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland[ 404 , K ]. It can also be used as a pioneer when establishing a large woodland garden, being able to remain as a canopy tree as the garden matures[ 404 ]. Other Uses The seed floss is used as a stuffing material for pillows, cushions etc[ 310 , 454 ]. It is considered to be vermin-proof[ 404 ]. Waterproof and buoyant, it can be used as the filling in life jackets[ 418 ]. It is sometimes also as an insulating material in refrigerators etc; can be used as a packing material; and has sound-proofing properties[ 317 , 404 ]. It is of lower quality than the floss obtained from Ceiba pentandra[ 320 ]. A fibre is obtained from the inner bark[ 598 ]. It is suitable for cordage[ 454 , 598 ]. A transparent gum exudes from the bark and sapling root[ 307 ]. It is called 'Gum of Malabar'[ 46 ]. The gum contains tannins[ 404 ]. The gum can be mixed with ashes and castor oil, and is then used as a cement for caulking iron saucepans[ 404 ]. An oil obtained from the seed is used to make soap and for illumination etc[ 317 , 418 ]. It can be used as a substitute for cottonseed oil[ 404 ]. The fibrous bark is used for making ropes[ 320 ]. The greyish, dark-streaked wood is coarse-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, very soft and pithy[ 310 , 404 ]. It can be used to make packing cases, toys, matches, pencils etc[ 317 , 320 ]. Large trunks are often hollowed out to make canoes[ 307 ]. The wood has been recommended as a source of cellulose[ 46 ]. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Carbon Farming  Food Forest