Philenoptera violacea grown tall

Rain-tree leaves are known to be browsed by game and stock. Once it reaches a height as in the photo not many will reach to savour young leaves here, apart from the spit-bugs (Ptyelus grossus) that suck the sap in season.

Easy to grow from seed, the tree features in frost-free gardens, particularly in the northeast of the country. Its wide-ranging uses such as dug-out canoes, casting spells by witches, poisoning fish and conversely in various medicines, make it notable and worth planting in the bigger garden and park (Schmidt, et al, 2002; Coates Palgrave, 2002).