Antiaris toxicaria

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Upas tree is monoecious. It is a large tree, growing to 25–40 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter, often buttressed at the base, with pale grey bark. The leaves are elliptic to obviate, 7–19 cm long and 3–6 cm broad. The African tree bears larger fruit than Asian and Polynesian populations. The Javanese Maravuri flowers in June. In Kenya peak seeding time is March. The fruit is a red or purple drupe 2 cm in diameter.
The leaves and root of Upas tree are used to treat mental illness and dysentery. The bark has a high concentration of tannins that are used in traditional clothes dyeing and paints. The fruit is edible, and birds, bats and humans that eat it spread the seeds.