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Types and examples of uses

Most uses fall into three categories: edible, material or medicinal.

Edible uses

Parts or all of a plant may have an edible use. Eg.

  • leaves for salads or tea
  • fruit for fresh consumption, jams, drying or making fruit leathers
  • rhizomes (roots) for cooking
  • flowers for tea and salads
  • nuts, seeds and kernels for drying, sprouting or making nut milk

View all plants with edible uses

Material uses

Parts or all of a plant may have material uses. Eg.

  • Wood for turning, timber or fuel
  • Extraction of fruit for fungicide
  • Fibre for rope
  • Bark, dried leaves and branches for weaving

View all plants with material uses

Medicinal uses

Parts or all of a plant may have medicinal uses. Eg.

  • Leaves prepared as an anti-inflammatory tea
  • Rhizomes prepared as an anti-bacterial ointment

View all plants with medicinal uses