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December 28, 2019

Pittosporum viridiflorum

Pittosporum viridiflorum

Pittosporum viridiflorum (kasuur, cheesewood) is used in traditional medicine for both people and animals. It is also used as a magical plant. It is a beautiful garden tree.

Pittosporum viridiflorum Monograph

This monograph contains details of Pittosporum viridiflorum as per the references cited below. If you can provide any additional information, photos or reliable records, or spot any errors, please leave a comment below or in The Muthi Flora of southern Africa Facebook group.

Traditional Medicinal Uses of Pittosporum viridiflorum

Administered to people: Decoctions made from a piece of bark about 40 cm x 60 cm, pounded and steeped in a pint (600ml) of water is used for febrile complaints. Vomiting is then induced with water. Double the quantity of bark is used in enemas administered for the same purpose. Bark decoctions are also taken for pains in the back and administered as emetics or enemas for stomach troubles, particularly those connected with bile, Such decoctions are also taken, usually in the mornings, to purify the blood. (Hutchings et.al.)

Used for stomach ailments by the Xhosa. Plant decoctions are used for respiratory diseases and bark infusions are used for abdominal pains. Roasted bark is for dysentery. Roots and bark are used for aphrodisiacs and root infusions are taken for chest pains and administered as enemas for dizziness. (Hutchings et.al.)

Bark decoctions are reported to ease pain and to produce restfulness. The bark has a peculiar sweet smell and bitter taste. (Hutchings et.al.)

Administered to animals: Roasted bark is used for black gallsickness. (Hutchings et.al.)

Applied in a magical sense: Root infusions are used by the Sotho for accuracy in divining and for protecting patients from witchcraft. (Hutchings et.al.)

Eco-Gardening

Pittosporum viridiflorum is a beautiful garden tree, which can be grown in sun or semi-shade. It can be used in forest and bush clumps as well as a hedge plant. Once planted, do not disturb the roots of Pittosporum viridiflorum. (Wildflower Nursery)

References

Arnold. T.H., Prentice, C.A., Hawker, L.C., Snyman, E.E., Tomalin, M., Crouch, N.R. and Pottas-Bircher, C. (2002). Medicinal and magical plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 13. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., Cunnigham, A.B., (1996). Zulu Medicinal Plants: an inventory. University of Natal

Wildflower Nursery – https://wildflowernursery.co.za/indigenous-plant-database/pittosporum-viridiflorum/. Accessed on 2020/01/06

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Additional Data (Advanced Search Fields)

Synonyms
Pittosporum abyssinicum Delile var. angolense Oliv., Pittosporum antunesii Engl., Pittosporum commutatum Putt., Pittosporum floribundum Wight & Arn., Pittosporum kruegeri Engl., Pittosporum malosanum Baker, Pittosporum quartinianum Cufod., Pittosporum sinense Desf., Pittosporum viridiflorum Sims subsp. malosanum (Baker) Cufod.; subsp. quartinianum (Cufod.) Cufod.; var. angolense (Oliv.) Cufod.; var. commutatum (Putt.) Moeser; var. kruegeri (Engl.) Moeser, Pittosporum vosseleri Engl.
Vernacular Names
Bosbeukenhout, Bosboekenhout, Kasuur (Afrikaans); Cheesewood (English); fusamfu, mfusamvu, umFusamvu (Z)
Family
Pittosporaceae
Broad Use Categories
Cardiovascular Disorders, Digestive Disorders, Eco-Gardening, Infections, Musculo-Skeletal Disorders, Respiratory Disorders, Rituals and Rites, Veterinary Use, Witchcraft
Application (Uses)
abdominal pain, aphrodisiac, backache, chest pains, divining, dizziness, dysentery, pain
Plant Type
Tree (shrub)
Parts Used
Bark, Root
Origin
Indigenous
Distribution
Swaziland (S), Limpopo Province (LIM), North-West Province (NW), Gauteng Province (G), Mpumalanga Province (M), Free State Province (FS), KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN), Northern Cape Province (NC), Western Cape Province (WC), Eastern Cape Province (EC)
Conservation Status
(LC) According to the Red List of South African plants, Pittosporum viridiflorum is not threatened and is assessed as Least Concern (LC).
Trade
Traded
Monograph Type
Expanded
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