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inHlungunyembe
iNtlungunyembe
Hardy, evergreen, medium to large upright shrub or small tree (to 6 m), with brown, deeply fissured bark, opposite, hard, dark green, leathery leaves. Clusters of white to pink-tinged, sweetly scented flowers (June–Oct). Large, plum-coloured, berry-like fruits relished by birds. Milky, poisonous sap. Attractive as hedge/specimen, tolerant of sun or shade, container-friendly.
Insects: Flowers attract insects (main pollinators) 11. Wildlife: Fruits eaten by birds and animals; pulp edible (sweetish-bitter) 11. Soil: Not a nitrogen fixer. Ecosystem Services: Poison used for hunting, shade plant in pastures.
Sweetly scented, white-pink flowers attract pollinators. Large, plum fruits eaten by birds/animals; seeds dispersed by animals. Unripe fruit and seeds highly poisonous.
Fruits relished by birds.
Sow fresh seeds (no pretreatment); poor storage viability. Also by wildlings.
Semi-hardwood cuttings in spring (Sep–Oct).
Milky sap for arrow poison (hunting, homicide, suicide); all parts highly poisonous except ripe fruit. Medicinal for snake/spider bites, worms, aches, colds, headache, abdominal pain, colds, measles, blood poisoning, syphilis, menstruation issues. Pulp used for jam. Poisoning of livestock rare but possible in drought.