the young leaves of this tree are cooked and eaten in times of famine; they are also used for cattle fodder, and the leaves, bark, roots and gum are used in traditional medicine, both internally and externally, for a range of conditions. lumps of gum can be chewed, used to fill teeth or made into beads, and the bark is used in brewing beer. the tree is a pioneer species and is used in forest regeneration, and the fragrant flowers are a rich source of nectar for bees.