Bead tree, Cape lily

Where does Bead tree grow?

Found in: Africa, Algeria, America, Andamans, Angola, Arabia, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, China, Christmas Island, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Martinique, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yap, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: Used as a medicine in Indonesia. It has anticancer properties. There are 2-3 (10-37) Melia species. It can become invasive.

Growing Bead tree, Cape lily

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be planted fresh. They can also be grown from cuttings. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Edible Uses: CAUTION: The fruit are very poisonous. (Six can kill a person). The berries have been recorded as eaten. They are also used for an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The young leaves are used in medicine and also recorded as eaten. They are roasted or fried. They are also used in curries. A kind of toddy is made by tapping the tree. Many parts of the tree are dangerously narcotic. The flowers are eaten as a vegetable. They are bitter.

Production: It is a fast growing tree.

Nutrition Info

Bead tree, Cape lily Photos

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