| 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, |
