Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses

Friday, August 7, 2009 by: sawan Modi

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,

Filed under: