Medium sized deciduous tree usually only to 20-30ft, but can reach 70ft. The trunk is grey-brown. Leaves are 10-20 cm long and 6-10 cm broad (up to 23 cm long on vigorous shoots), downy on the underside, the upper surface rough with very short, stiff hairs. The edible fruit is dark purple, almost black, when ripe, 2-3 cm long, a compound cluster of several small drupes.

Antibacterial, astringent, diaphoretic, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic and ophthalmic (leaves); antirheumatic, diuretic, hypotensive and pectoral (stems); antitussive, diuretic, expectorant and hypotensive (root bark); anthelmintic and purgative (bark)

Plants for a Future
King's American Dispensatory

In the treatment of colds, influenza, eye infections and nosebleeds (leaves); to relieve toothache (barks tincture); for urinary incontinence, tinnitus, premature greying of the hair and constipation in the elderly (fruit); asthma, coughs, bronchitis, oedema, hypertension and diabetes (root bark); to expel tape worms (bark)