The Leadwood tree is a very long-lived but slow-growing tree, found from the southern regions of South Africa as far up the continent as Northern Tanzania. The leaves are eaten by many animals including elephant, giraffe, kudu and impala. The wood of the Leadwood tree, being very dense and beautiful, makes it valuable for commercial use. Inhaling the smoke from the burning wood of a Leadwood tree is an ancient remedy for curing coughs and colds.Leadwood bark is used as a treatment for bilharzia, and the roots as a cure for infertility. Ash from the burned tree is used as toothpaste.