Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses: Gum

This species is doubtfully distinct from Thespesia populnea, and so should have the same uses as detailed below:- Young leaves - raw or cooked[299 , 301 , 303 , 307 ]. Eaten as a vegetable, they can also be boiled or added to soups[301 , 310 ]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[301 , 303 , 307 ]. Fruits - preserved and eaten[301 ]. The unripe fruits are eaten raw, boiled or fried as a vegetable[299 ].

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.
Antibacterial  Antifungal  Antihaemorrhoidal  Antirheumatic  Antirheumatic  Cancer  Carminative  Cholera  
Dysentery  Febrifuge  Hypotensive  Laxative  Malaria  Parasiticide  Poultice  
Purgative  Skin  Urinary

This species is doubtfully distinct from Thespesia populnea, and so should have the same uses as detailed below:- Portia tree is often used in traditional medicine, where the bark, root, leaves, flowers and fruits are all used to treat a range of ailments. There has been some research into its properties, which tends to support these traditional uses. The heartwood contains several sesquiterpenoid quinones, including mansonone D and H, thespone and thespesone, which are known to induce contact dermatitis, to inhibit tumour formation and to have antifungal properties[299 ]. The heartwood and other plant parts contain gossypol[299 ]. The fruits and leaves contain compounds with antibacterial activity, whereas methanolic extracts of the flower buds have shown antifungal activity[299 ]. Ethanol extracts of the flower have shown antihepatotoxic activity[299 ]. Aqueous extracts of the fruit have shown wound-healing activity in rats after topical or oral administration[299 ]. The seed oil has anti-amoebic activity[299 ]. The heartwood is carminative. It is useful in treating pleurisy, cholera, colic and high fevers[299 , 303 , 310 ]. The fruit juice is used to treat herpes[303 ]. The crushed fruit is used in a treatment for urinary tract problems and abdominal swellings[311 ]. The cooked fruit, crushed in coconut oil, provides a salve, which, if applied to the hair, will kill lice[303 ]. An extract of the fruit is applied to swollen testicles[311 ]. A leaf tea is taken as a treatment for rheumatism and urinary retention[303 ]. A decoction of the leaves is used in treating coughs, influenza, headache and relapses in illnesses[311 ]. The leaf sap, and decoctions of most parts of the plant, are used externally to treat various skin diseases[303 ]. Juices from the pounded fruits, mixed with pounded leaves are used in a poultice to treat headaches and itches[303 ]. A decoction of the bark and fruit is mixed with oil and used to treat scabies. A decoction of the astringent bark is used to treat dysentery and haemorrhoids, and a maceration of it is drunk for colds[303 ]. A cold infusion of the bark is used in treating dysentery, diabetes, gonorrhoea, yellow urine, and thrush[311 ]. Indigestion, pelvic infection, dysmenorrhoea, infertility, secondary amenorrhoea, appetite loss, ulcers and worms are also treated with the bark[311 ]. The inner bark is used to treat constipation and typhoid[311 ]. The stem is employed in treating breast cancer[311 ]. Other extracts of the plant have significant antimalarial activity[303 ]. Leaf and bark decoctions are taken as a remedy for high blood pressure[303 ]. Seeds are purgative[303 ].

Dye  Fencing  Fibre  Fuel  Furniture  Green manure  Gum  Hair  Hedge  Insecticide  Lighting  Parasiticide  Plant support  Shelterbelt  Soil stabilization  String  Tannin  Waterproofing  Wood

Other Uses: This species is doubtfully distinct from Thespesia populnea, and so should have the same uses as detailed below:- The tough, fibrous bark yields a strong fibre used for cordage, fishing lines, coffee bags and for caulking boats[299 , 303 , 307 , 310 ] An oil is obtained from the seed[307 ]. It can be used in lamps[299 ]. The wood, soaked in water, yields a solution that is used in Asia to dye wool deep brown[299 , 307 , 310 ]. The fruit and flowers yield a water-soluble yellowish dye[299 , 307 , 310 ]. A black dye can be obtained from the leaves[299 ]. The bark is a source of tannins[299 , 303 ]. A gum is obtained from the fruit and flowers[303 , 307 ]. A thick gum, which is not soluble in water, is obtained from the bark[299 ]. The leaves are used for wrapping food[299 ]. The heartwood is reddish brown to dark brown or black, often with purple veining; it is sharply demarcated from the 1 - 2cm wide band of white to pale yellow or pale pink sapwood that darkens upon exposure. The wood is fine-grained; medium to fine-textured; it shows slight ribbon figure on quartersawn faces. Freshly cut wood has a rose-like smell. The wood is strong, hard, light to medium in weight; very durable, even when in contact with water or the ground, and resistant to insect attack. It seasons well, and does not warp or check; shrinkage upon seasoning is very low to low. The wood is easy to saw and work, despite its wavy grain; it turns well in both green and dry conditions; can be finished to an attractive polish; paints well; gluing properties are poor to medium. The wood contains an oil which slows down drying of varnishes. A very handsome and valuable wood, looking somewhat like chocolate and vanilla swirled togethe, it is used for a wide range of purposes where quality is more important than size, including traditional bowls, artefacts, gunstocks, jewellery, furniture, plates and utensils, horse-drawn carts and wheelbarrows, to carve canoe paddles. It is also used for light construction, flooring moulds, musical instruments, utensils and vehicle bodies[303 , 307 , 312 ]. Since it is very durable under water, it is popular for boat building[46 , 307 ]. The wood is used for fuel[299 ].

Special Uses

Hedge