Awesome Foraging Finds

Another great walk on the farm and this time I came across what is locally known as the mathutsi tree or snuff box tree yielding fruit. These trees grow wild here and got the name snuff box tree, because the hard shells of the fruit were commonly used to make snuff boxes, it was also used to make various other objects such as baby rattles or kids toys. And they are used to make anclets and armlets that rattle worn by traditional African dancers, this adds rhythm and sound to their performance.

As kids we used to collect these fruits and place them into the fire until they were boiling on the inside and then we would take them out carefully with tongs and throw them on the ground, the fruit would then burst with a loud bang, much like a fire cracker of sorts, or use them as spinning tops.

But there are other amazing qualities to this specific tree such as its medicinal uses.

Although this fruit is edible, it has a very pungent unique taste and texture which makes it undesirable to many, but comes in handy in times of famine. The roots are used as a treatment of dysentery and bladder complaints. While the fruit itself serves as an aphrodisiac and in some cases is even believed to ward off evil spirits.

Other medicinal uses of this plant include:

• treatment for stomach-ache and loss of appetite
• Treatment of fever with the oils obtained from the seeds
• External use for skin-complaints or a wound wash
• While the roots are used as a strengthening tonic