EUPHORBIACEAE |
Andrachne |
ovalis (False Lightning Bush) umbesa, umbeza, |
Insecticidal: | Powdered roots an insecticide & snake repellent. Scalp parasites. |
Medicinal: | Powdered roots used for chest complaints & headaches.. |
Heywoodia |
lucens (Stink Ebony) umndebele, umndzebelele, |
Timber: | Heavy, hard & strong but smelly timber. |
Phyllanthus |
myrtaceus (Stink Ebony) |
Food: | Edible white berries. |
pentandrus (Stink Ebony) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal |
reticulatus var. reticulatus (Potato Bush) calekile, intaba-yengwe, intsabayengwe, nhlanhla, nklankla, |
Dyes: | Fruit produce a dark dye used for fishing nets. |
Fodder: | Browsed by stock and game even though fruits and roots may be toxic. |
Medicinal: | Leaves & fruits for sores & burns. Crushed roots & leaves are inhaled. |
Margaritaria |
discoidea (Pheasant Berry) ugusakhethelo, umadlozane, umdlulamazembe, umkwangu, umnandana, upata, |
Timber: | Dense, red timber. |
Medicinal: | Bark relieves pain after childbirth. Burnt externally as stimulant. |
var. discoidea |
var. fagifolia |
var. nitida |
Drypetes |
arguta (Water Ironplum) umkaswane, umkhashwane, |
Household: | Hard wood good for sticks and hut building. |
Food: | Edible fruit can also be used to make an intoxicating liquor. |
gerrardii (Forest Ironplum) umhlwakela, umhlwakele, |
Honey: | Nectar source for bees. |
Household: | Hard, white wood used for sticks. |
Food: | Edible fruit. |
var. gerrardii |
mossambicensis (Forest Ironplum) |
Food: | Edible fruit |
Antidesma |
venosum (Tasselberry Tree) bhekindoda, bhubhuludla, emabhubhuludla, hubulu, imhlalanyoni, imhlalanyoni, inhlalahubulu, umbhubhuludla, umhlalamahubhulu, umhlalanyoni, umshongi, |
Firewood: | Branches used as firewood. |
Medicinal: | Root infusion used to bathe to relieve pain. Bark, leaves, fruit & roots used for stomach complaints. Roots used to treat barrenness. |
Food: | Edible fruit & leaves. Root is toxic. |
Bridelia |
cathartica (Blue Sweetberry) umnwangasi, |
Medicinal: | Fruit medicinal. |
Food: | Edible fruit produced in big quantities. |
subsp. cathartica |
subsp. melanthesoides var. melanthesoides |
micrantha (Velvet Sweetberry) imphisimakhata, mahlombe, umhlalamagwababa, umhlalamahubhulu, |
Timber: | Branches used for kraal construction. |
Household: | Durable, termite resistant wood makes good furniture. |
Medicinal: | Bark for eyes & for asthma. Root for stomach pains Powdered root mixed with oil and fats can relieve headaches. Leaf sap for sore eyes. |
Food: | Edible fruit & leaves |
Androstachys |
johnsonii (Lebombo Ironwood) bukhukhu, bukhunkhu, umsibitsi, umsimbitsi, |
Timber: | Valuable, termite proof wood used for poles & construction timber. |
Cultural: | Traditional |
Firewood: | Fuelwood. Gives off smell of honey when burning. |
Medicinal: | Purgative |
Croton |
gratissimus (Lavender Feverberry) mwulukwa, |
Timber: | Termite resistant wood used for construction. Stems for hut roofs. |
Household: | Y-shaped branches used to make catapults. Leaves for perfume. |
Medicinal: | Bark for bleeding gums & vomiting. Leaves coughs & fever. Poisonous. |
var. gratissimus |
var. subgratissimus |
menyharthii (Rough-leaved Croton) mhuluka, mwulukwa, umkulaka, |
Cultural: | Roots for a good luck charm. |
Medicinal: | Root decoction treats asthma.Leaves medicinal. |
pseudopulchellus (Small Lavender Croton.) ihubeshane, |
Medicinal: | Decoction of root for asthma. Poisonous. |
steenkampianus (Marsh Feverberry) mhuluka, mnyakeni, mwuluka, |
Cultural: | Bark a good luck charm for business. |
Medicinal: | Bark used as emetic & for chest ailments. Steamed leaves releave aches. |
sylvaticus (Forest Feverberry) nyakeni, |
Firewood: | Burns even when green. |
Medicinal: | Leaf poultice for pleurisy. Bark for rheumatism. Poisonous. |
Micrococca |
capensis (False Beadstring) ububu, |
Erythrococca |
menyharthii (False Beadstring) |
Food: | Fruits & leaves are edible. |
natalensis (False Beadstring) |
Food: | Edible parts |
Acalypha umsongo, |
angustata (False Beadstring) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
capensis (False Beadstring) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
caperonioides (False Beadstring) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
depressinerva (False Beadstring) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
ecklonii (False Beadstring) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
glabrata var. glabrata (False Beadstring) |
Timber: | Posts & poles |
Household: | Baskets |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
Food: | Young twigs eaten like spinach. |
glandulifolia (Red Catkins) ungibonisele, usununundu, |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea. Emetic to improve health. |
Food: | Roots eaten raw. |
hochstetteriana (Red Catkins) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
indica (Red Catkins) |
Medicinal: | Herb for diarrhoea, expectorant & diuretic |
var. bailloniana |
var. indica |
ornata (Red Catkins) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
peduncularis (Red Catkins) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
punctata (Red Catkins) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
var. longifolia |
var. punctata |
var. rogersii |
sonderiana (Red Catkins) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
villicaulis (Brooms and Brushes) umphendulo, |
Cultural: | Magic-medico to remove bad luck. |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea. Used for wounds. |
wilmsii (Brooms and Brushes) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
Tragia imbabatane, |
benthamii (Brooms and Brushes) |
glabrata var. glabrata (Brooms and Brushes) |
Fodder: | Browsed by game |
meyeriana (Brooms and Brushes) |
Fodder: | Browsed by game |
Medicinal: | Medicinal to cause sexual excitement. |
minor (Brooms and Brushes) |
okanyua (Brooms and Brushes) |
rupestris (Brooms and Brushes) |
sonderi (Brooms and Brushes) |
Ctenomeria |
capensis imbabatane, |
Medicinal: | Bark used as emetic. |
Tragiella |
natalensis |
Dalechampia |
capensis (Wild Hop) imbabatane, |
Medicinal: | Medicinal |
Ricinus |
communis * (Castor Oil Plant) umhlafutfo, |
Medicinal: | Purgative. Leaves used in creams & ointments for wounds. Poisonous. |
Jatropha |
curcas * (Castor Oil Plant) |
Household: | Oil used for candles and soap making. Poisonous. |
Medicinal: | Oil is a purgative and toxic. Poisonous. |
hirsuta (Hairy-leaved Jatropha) godzide, godzidze, |
Cultural: | Protective charm against lightning. |
Medicinal: | Roots used for fever & wounds. Medicinal for dogs. |
var. hirsuta |
var. oblongifolia |
variifolia (Glossy-leaved Jatropha) umsenge, |
zeyheri var. zeyheri godida, |
Medicinal: | Tuber for menstrual pain and to strengthen foetus |
Food: | Leaves boiled for tea in Botswana. |
Clutia |
monticola var. monticola (Branching Clutia) licimamlilo, licishamilo, |
Medicinal: | Roots used to help in respiration. |
pulchella var. pulchella (Lightning Bush) ikhambi lenkosi, umembesa, |
Medicinal: | Widely used medeicinally. |
Food: | Plants crushed and used in milk in Lesotho. |
Suregada |
africana (Common Canary-berry) manyokane, sitfubi, ummemezi, velabahleke, vulabahleke, |
Cultural: | Roots are a charm to make people laugh. |
Medicinal: | Medicinal |
Spirostachys |
africana (African Sandalwood) umtfombotsi, |
Timber: | Hard, heavy, close-grained, durable wood is termite proof. |
Cultural: | Traditionally the tree is feared almost taboo. A "jumping bean" tree. |
Insecticidal: | Wood has insect-repellent properties. |
Household: | Handicrafts, sculptures & furniture. Sawdust is an irritant. |
Medicinal: | Bark for back-ache, emetic & infertility. Smoke semi-poisonous. |
Euphorbia umhlonhlo, |
angrae (African Sandalwood) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
clavigera (Euphorbia) sihlonhlwana, |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
cooperi (Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach & bladder medicine. Roots for warts. Poisonous |
var. calidicola |
var. cooperi |
cyathophora * (Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
epicyparissias (Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
ericoides (Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
grandicornis (Rhino Thorn) sinhlonhlwane, |
Cultural: | Lightning protection. |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine but also poisonous. Also used for cow parasites. |
subsp. grandicornis |
subsp. sejuncta |
grandidens (Rhino Thorn) |
Cultural: | Traditionally associated with twins. |
Household: | Sap has been used as glue. |
gueinzii (Rhino Thorn) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
var. albovillosa |
var. gueinzii |
hirta * (Rhino Thorn) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for sore eyes. A garden weed. |
hypericifolia (Rhino Thorn) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
inaequilatera var. inaequilatera (Rhino Thorn) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. Problem weed in citrus orchards. |
indica * (Rhino Thorn) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
ingens (Common Tree Euphorbia) inshumpha, inshupa, umkloklo, |
Timber: | Can be used as planks after burning off sap and latex. |
Cultural: | Lightning protection. |
Insecticidal: | Fish poison. |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine, also poisonous. Honey made from it is harmful. Roots for toothache and decay. Toxic latex but used for cancer. |
keithii (Common Tree Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
knobelii (Common Tree Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
knuthii (Euphorbia) sihlohlwana, siklonklwana, |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
neopolycnemoides (Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
prostrata * (Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. Problem weed in citrus orchards. |
pulvinata (Prickle-leaved Euphorbia) sihlohlwana, |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
schinzii (Schinz's Euphorbia) sihlohlwana, |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
striata var. striata (Schinz's Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Medicinal for stomach disorders |
Food: | Edible parts added to sour milk. |
tirucalli (Rubber Euphorbia) umdvute, umnduze, |
Dyes: | Dye for black cattle to lighten them. Black cattle King's perogative! |
Insecticidal: | Insect repellent, insecticide & fish poison. |
Medicinal: | Fruit for sexual impotence. (Can be poisonous, especially the latex). Roots are a cleanser. |
transvaalensis (Rubber Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
triangularis (Rubber Euphorbia) |
Cultural: | Planted outside huts for protection of twins. |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine but also poisonous |
zambesiana var. zambesiana (Rubber Euphorbia) |
Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
Synadenium |
cupulare (Dead Man's Tree) sidletjana, |
Cultural: | By superstition an evil tree luring people to death. Irritant vapour. |
Medicinal: | Leaves for headache, toothache, asthma & eyes. Poisonous. |
Monadenium |
lugardiae umdlebe, |
Cultural: | Used by diviners for clear vision. |
Medicinal: | An abortifacient & for stomach & chest pains. Also poisonous. |
Manihot |
esculenta * (Sweet Potato) bhatata, |
Medicinal: | Roots for scabies. Toxic |
Food: | Edible roots & leaves prepared with care to avoid toxicity. Starch used to make tapioca. |
Flueggea |
virosa subsp. virosa (White-berry Bush) bhubhubhu, mahlanganisa, umhlangamisa, |
Medicinal: | Root for malaria. Bark for diarrhoea & pneumonia |
Food: | Edible fruit. |
Aleurites |
moluccana * (White-berry Bush) |
Household: | Oily seed kernals crushed and used as a fuel for a torch or candle. |
Sclerocroton |
integerrimum (Jumping Seed Tree) umhlalampunsi, umhlalampunzi, |
Timber: | Hard durable wood for hut building & general use. |
Dyes: | Fruits can be used for tanning. |
Household: | Attractive furniture. Has been used to produce ink. |
Medicinal: | Root infusion as mouthwash and for toothache. |
Shirakiopsis |
elliptica (Jumping-seed Tree) umhlepha, |