Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
| FABACEAE | |
| Albizia | |
| adianthifolia var. adianthifolia (Poison-pod Albizia) inhlangushane, inhlangutjane, ligowane, sivangatana, sivangatane, umkhabamkhombe, usolo, | |
| Timber: | Timber for construction. Parquet blocks for flooring |
| Cultural: | Clarifies dreams and stops bad spirits. Helps ancestor communication |
| Household: | Leaves sometimes used as washing sponge. |
| Medicinal: | Bark & roots for skin diseases, scabies & for uterine problems, but is also poisonous. Leafy twig used to treat abcesses. Stembark used for epilepsy, gonorrhea & eyesight. |
| Food: | Sauce can be made from seeds. |
| anthelmintica (Worm-cure Falsethorn) ligola, sivangatane, umnala, | |
| Timber: | Wood used for timber. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Medicinal: | Bark & roots for tape worms. An anthelmintic. Lowers cholesterol. |
| forbesii (Broad-pod FalseThorn) sivangatane, umnala, | |
| Household: | Wood used for carving. |
| harveyi (Common Falsethorn) inkhambane, umtfongwane, | |
| Medicinal: | Pods & leaves poisonous to cattle & sheep. |
| versicolor (Large Leaved Falsethorn) halibhona , imfiayezi, inhlaba, mhlakaza, sivangatana, sivangatane, umvangatana, | |
| Timber: | Timber for construction |
| Cultural: | Used to make mischief with others. Acquistion of metaphysical powers. Used by sangoma in washing ceremonies. |
| Household: | Drums & furniture & carving. Root & bark for a soap substitute. |
| Medicinal: | Poisonous in blood but not if eaten. Hence used in arrow poisons. But pods and seeds reported to be poisonous to stock at a certain stage of development. Used medicinally for backache and cough. |
| Acacia umgamba, | |
| ataxacantha (Flame Thorn) funuzumhole, lugagane, magucu, migamandi, sitfwetfwe, umkhaya, | |
| Timber: | Fencing |
| Household: | Branches for basketry and other crafts. |
| Medicinal: | Bark used for treating abcesses |
| baileyana * (Flame Thorn) | |
| Dyes: | Probably tannin |
| borleae (Sticky Thorn) lubibi, sitfwetfwe, | |
| Timber: | Fencing |
| brevispica (Prickly Thorn) lugagane, | |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Timber: | Timber & fencing |
| subsp. brevispica | |
| subsp. dregeana | |
| burkei (Black Monkey Thorn) sikhayane, umbambampala, umbambamphala, umkhaya, | |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Household: | Handicrafts & furniture |
| caffra (Cat Thorn) isinga, lisinga, lugagane, singa, umtfolo, umtfololwane, | |
| Timber: | Fencing |
| Dyes: | Dyes & tanning. |
| Fodder: | Leaves & pods are grazed but suspected of causing poisoning. |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Household: | Tobacco pipes |
| Medicinal: | Bark emetic for blood cleansing |
| davyi (Corky Thorn) mshipha, umcamba, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| dealbata * (Silver Wattle) umtfolo wesilungu, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Dyes: | Wattle & tannin |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| decurrens * (Green Wattle) umtfolo wesilungu, | |
| Dyes: | Wattle & tannin |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| elata * (Pepertree Wattle) umtfolo, | |
| Dyes: | Probably tannin |
| gerrardii (Red Thorn) liphute, liphuze, mbote, mngamandi, singa, | |
| Timber: | Building |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for gastroenteritis |
| subsp. gerrardii var. calvescens | |
| subsp. gerrardii var. gerrardii | |
| grandicornuta (Horned Thorn) sitfwetfwe, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| karroo (Sweet Thorn) isinga, lisinga, singa, umgamatsi, umunga, | |
| Timber: | Construction |
| Honey: | Frequented by honey bees. Sometimes called the "bee tree". |
| Dyes: | Tanning leather red. |
| Cultural: | Traditional |
| Fodder: | Leaves & pods make excellent fodder. |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Household: | Bark for baskets & ropes & wood for furniture. |
| Medicinal: | Gum for mouth ulcers & throat thrush. Bark & leafs for diarrhoea & dysentery. Gum reputed to delay puberty. |
| Food: | Edible gum. Seeds roasted for coffee. |
| longifolia * (Sweet Thorn) | |
| Dyes: | Wattle & tannin |
| luederitzii var. retinens (Belly Thorn) lukhakho, sibanbimphala, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Fodder: | Forage & fodder |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Food: | Edible gum & fruits. |
| mearnsii * (Black Wattle) umtfolo, umtfolo wesilungu, | |
| Household: | Used for a wide variety of products. Fibre board, cellophane etcetera. |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Dyes: | Wattle & tannin |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| melanoxylon * (Australian Blackwood) ingucukane, ingulukane, ngulukane, umtfolo, | |
| Timber: | Excellent timber & introduced to South Africa for that purpose. |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Household: | Fine furniture. |
| mellifera subsp. detinens (Australian Blackwood) | |
| Honey: | A good "bee tree". |
| Fodder: | Valuable fodder tree for game or stock. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Medicinal: | Roots used medicinally for stomach complaints. Gum delays puberty. |
| Food: | Edible leaves and gum. |
| natalitia (Pale-bark Sweet Thorn.) singa, umunga, | |
| Household: | Seeds for necklaces & trinkets. |
| Medicinal: | Bark used as a diuretic. |
| nigrescens (Knobthorn) mkhaya, ukhaya, umhlofunga, umkhaya, umkyayo, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Cultural: | Traditional |
| Firewood: | Excellent firewood. |
| Household: | Handicrafts & furniture. Favourite wood for making "jukskeie". |
| Medicinal: | Leaves used for asthma. Bark to treat fatigue. |
| nilotica subsp. kraussiana (Scented Thorn) inshagu, inshakwe, lugagane, sitfetfe, sitfwetfwe, umncawe, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Dyes: | Dye |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Medicinal: | Bark for coughs. Gum may delay puberty. Bark & roots are an emetic. |
| Food: | Edible gum. Suitable for confectionary. |
| podalyriifolia * (Scented Thorn) | |
| Dyes: | Probably tannin |
| polyacantha subsp. campylacantha (White Thorn) umtfolo, umtfolowesiganga, umtfolowesintfu, | |
| Cultural: | Magical properties. |
| Insecticidal: | Deterrent to snakes & crocodiles. |
| Firewood: | Firewood burns well. |
| Medicinal: | Bark is medicinal. |
| reficiens subsp. reficiens (White Thorn) | |
| robusta (Brack Thorn) imgamba, singa, umgamazi, umngamazi, umngamti, | |
| Honey: | Honey |
| Household: | Handicrafts & furniture. Inner bark makes twine. |
| Medicinal: | Roots & bark medicinal |
| Timber: | Fencing. |
| Dyes: | Tannin leather |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Medicinal: | Roots medicinal. Bark for hernia and to increase stamina. |
| subsp. clavigera | |
| subsp. robusta | |
| schweinfurthii var. schweinfurthii (Brack Thorn) | |
| senegal (Three-hook Thorn) ambambimphala, sibanbimphala, umbambimphala, | |
| Cultural: | Traditional |
| Fodder: | Forage |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Medicinal: | Gum treats bacterial & fungal skin & mouth infections. Antibiotic |
| Food: | Edible gum. The best gum arabic of commerce. |
| var. rostrata | |
| var. senegal | |
| sieberiana (Paperbark Thorn) inkhambane, sitfwetfwe, umkhambane, umnganduzi, | |
| Fodder: | Pods eaten by game and stock but fruit may be poisonous. |
| Household: | Furniture |
| Medicinal: | Bark is used as an analgesic and for vomiting. |
| Timber: | Fencing |
| swazica (Swazi Thorn) khalimela, lubibi, sasane, sitfwetfwe, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Cultural: | Traditional |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Bark used for making ropes. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal roots. |
| tortilis subsp. heteracantha (Umbrella Thorn) lisasa, sasanelomncane, sitfetfe, sitfwetfwe, umsasane, | |
| Timber: | Timber & fencing. |
| Fodder: | Pods are very nutritious for cattle and game. |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Medicinal: | Leaves used for asthma. |
| Cultural: | Traditional |
| xanthophloea (Fever Tree) umhlafunga, umhlafutfwa, umhlosinga, umkhanyakudze, | |
| Timber: | Good tmber when seasoned. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Medicinal: | Wrongly associated with malaria. Bark is medicinal for fevers. Used as an emetic. |
| Dichrostachys | |
| cinerea subsp. nyassana (Large-leaved Sickle Bush) umsilazembe, | |
| cinerea subsp. africana (Sickle Bush) lusekwane, | |
| cinerea (Sickle Bush) mzilazembe, umtsetane, umzilazemba, | |
| Timber: | Used for durable fence posts. |
| Cultural: | Fencing at Incwala ceremonies. Has medicinal-magico properties. |
| Fodder: | Forage & fodder. Pods and leaves are nutritous. |
| Firewood: | Fuel wood |
| Household: | Inner bark makes strong rope. |
| Medicinal: | Roots for local anaesthesia and snakebite antidote. Many traditional medicinal uses, maybe antibiotic & pain relieving. |
| subsp. africana var. africana | |
| subsp. africana var. pubescens | |
| subsp. nyassana | |
| Newtonia | |
| hildebrandtii var. hildebrandtii (Lebombo Wattle) umfomoti, umtfombotsi, | |
| Timber: | Good, hard brown timber. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal properties. |
| Elephantorrhiza | |
| elephantina (Elandsbean) intfolwane, intolwane, umdzafu, | |
| Dyes: | Dye & tannin |
| Cultural: | Stops bad luck and brings good luck. |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game |
| Medicinal: | Bark is emetic & used for fevers, dysentary, ulcers, & syphilis. Boosts immune system. Roots treat diarrhoea. |
| Food: | Roasted beans are a coffee substitute |
| Entada | |
| Adenopodia | |
| spicata (Spiny Splinter Bean) lugagane, | |
| Erythrophleum | |
| lasianthum (Swazi Ordeal Tree) umhlahle, umkhankhu, umkhwangu, | |
| Timber: | Hard, termite resistant timber for construction. |
| Cultural: | Roots & bark used to prepare poisons for use in "Trials by Ordeal". |
| Insecticidal: | Leaves used to protect grain from insects. Bark used as fish poison. |
| Medicinal: | Bark - as snuff for colds, head and stomach aches. Bark, roots & seeds medicinal, poisonous & anaesthetic. |
| Schotia | |
| brachypetala (African Walnut) sihlati, sihlazi, thunzikhulu, umgcanu, uvovovo, vovovo, | |
| Honey: | Great producer of nectar. |
| Dyes: | Bark used for tannin & for dye. |
| Cultural: | Decoction of bark used to gain popularity dignity and respect. Acquistion of metaphysical powers. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Dense, hard wood for furniture & flooring. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for heartburn, chest complaints, hangover, to purify blood, an emetic & for vomiting. |
| Food: | Edible nuts & flowers. |
| capitata (Dwarf Boer-bean) mvovovane, thunzikhulu, umvovovane, vovovo, vovovo lomncane, | |
| Honey: | Flowers laden with nectar. |
| Cultural: | Acquistion of metaphysical powers. |
| Household: | Crafts |
| Medicinal: | Emetic. Bark for heart complaints. |
| Afzelia | |
| quanzensis (Pod Mahogany) mkolikoli, umbola, umkholikholi, umkhwalikhwali, umshafunti, | |
| Timber: | Timber & construction. Red-brown timber for panelling and floor blocks. |
| Cultural: | Traditional. Magical properties to ward off attack. Washing in an infusion bark & roots brings good luck to huntsman. |
| Fodder: | Fodder & forage |
| Household: | Seeds for necklaces & trinkets. Wood for furniture and canoes. |
| Medicinal: | Roots & bark for bilharzia, the eyes, sores and eczema. |
| Bauhinia umdlandlovu, lusololo, | |
| galpinii (Pod Mahogany) | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Cultural: | Purifies monkey & mongoose for men. Ancestor communication. |
| Fodder: | Forage & fodder |
| Firewood: | Firewood. But do not burn in planting season; bad crops ensue |
| Household: | Necklaces from seed |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. Roots are anthelmintic. |
| purpurea * (Pod Mahogany) | |
| variegata * (Orchid Tree) khubakhulu, | |
| Piliostigma | |
| thonningii (Orchid Tree) | |
| Household: | Fruits used as substitute for soap. Bark fibre used for string & rope. |
| Medicinal: | All parts of tree widely used for medicinal purposes. |
| Food: | Mealy portion of pod considered a famine food. Monkey's bread. |
| Tylosema | |
| fassoglense (Marama Bean) khubakhulu, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots & bark are medicinal. |
| Food: | Edible nuts & tubers |
| Cassia | |
| abbreviata subsp. beareana (Marama Bean) | |
| Cultural: | Magical properties. Meat cooked over it ensures successful hunting. |
| Medicinal: | Various parts used as aphrodisiac & remedy for stomach aches |
| Chamaecrista | |
| mimosoides (Fishbone Dwarf Cassia) imbubu, umbonisela, | |
| Cultural: | Traditionally to induce sleep and recall dreams. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for skin complaints, dysentery and loss of appetite. |
| Senna | |
| didymobotrya * (Peanut Senna) lintongomane, | |
| italica * (Wild Senna) impengu, | |
| Medicinal: | Pain, snakebite and roundworm |
| Food: | Seeds as coffee substitute |
| subsp. arachoides * | |
| subsp. italica * | |
| subsp. italica * | |
| occidentalis * (Wild Coffee) lijoye, likhomlsi letintfwala, linyanyoka, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. Antibiotic. Leaves used to treat epilepsy. |
| Food: | Roasted seeds a coffee substitute. Toxic if not roasted. |
| petersiana (Monkey Pod) lifahlawane, lijoyi, lujoyi, | |
| Cultural: | Roots make a good luck charm. |
| Medicinal: | Antibiotic. Purgative & for fevers, skin infections & gonorrhoea. |
| Food: | Pods are eaten and perhaps the seeds. |
| Caesalpinia | |
| decapetala * (Mauritius Thorn) lugagame, lugagane, | |
| Timber: | Fencing posts |
| Dyes: | Red dye from wood. |
| Cultural: | Roots make a recipe against wandering. |
| Peltophorum | |
| africanum (African Wattle) isikhabakhombe, lisikhabakhombe, mahabiya, mashubane, mphunganko, mphungankomo, umkhabamkhombe, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Cultural: | A panacea against bad luck and evil spirits. A "rain" tree. Bark used by men to attract women. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Handicrafts, carving, utensils. |
| Medicinal: | Bark chewed to relieve colic and stomach disorders. Roots used for gastroenteritis. |
| Cordyla | |
| africana (Wild Mango) imbubuli, thunzikhulu, umbubuli, vovovo, | |
| Timber: | Timber. Construction.. |
| Household: | Handicrafts. Drums |
| Medicinal: | Bark used as an emetic |
| Food: | Edible fruit with high vitamin C. Fruit looks delicious but is tasteless. |
| Calpurnia | |
| aurea subsp. aurea (Wild Laburnum) umphendvulo, | |
| Medicinal: | Powerful anti-vermin properties. Anti lice & maggots. |
| glabrata (Swazi Calpurnia) umphendvulo, | |
| Medicinal: | Powerful anti-vermin properties. Anti lice & maggots. |
| Bolusanthus | |
| speciosus (Tree Wisteria) umhhohlo, umhohlo, | |
| Timber: | Many uses for the hard termite proof timber |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game. Monkeys eat flowers |
| Firewood: | Termite resistant wood is good firewood. |
| Medicinal: | Bark & roots medicinal for stomach & abdominal disorders. |
| Lotononis | |
| corymbosa ihlamvusenhla, incinci, umamatheka, umhlambululi, umusa, uvelabahleke, | |
| Medicinal: | Tonic for women who lost a baby. |
| eriantha | |
| Cultural: | Traditional charm |
| foliosa (Bookleaved Lotononis) isisinini sentaba, | |
| Cultural: | Traditionally used to ensure good crops. |
| laxa (Bookleaved Lotononis) | |
| Medicinal: | Poisonous for sheep |
| Crotalaria | |
| brevidens var. intermedia * (Bookleaved Lotononis) | |
| Food: | Vegetable but with toxic components. |
| capensis (Cape Rattle-pod) bhubhubhu, | |
| globifera (Round Pod Rattle Bush) ubhubhubhu-wegceke, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots used in traditional medicine. Can be poisonous to stock. |
| juncea * (Round Pod Rattle Bush) | |
| Medicinal: | Can be poisonouis to stock. |
| lanceolata (Twin-leaved Rattle Bush) izaza, | |
| Cultural: | Traditional love charm. |
| Fodder: | Green fodder |
| subsp. contigua | |
| subsp. lanceolata | |
| monteiroi (Small-leaved Rattle-pod) uhashazi, | |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game |
| var. galpinii | |
| var. monteiroi | |
| natalitia var. natalitia (Small-leaved Rattle-pod) | |
| Honey: | Honey plant. |
| pallida var. pallida (Small-leaved Rattle-pod) | |
| Fodder: | Fodder crop |
| Argyrolobium | |
| marginatum (Small-leaved Rattle-pod) | |
| Food: | Edible tuber. |
| tomentosum (Velvety Yellow Bush Pea) umadlozana, umlomomnandi, | |
| Cultural: | Used by sangomas to sharpen divining powers |
| tuberosum (Little Russet Pea) ulubomvu, uvemvane, | |
| Food: | Edible leaves & tubers. |
| Lotus | |
| discolor subsp. discolor (Coral Plant) isiphunga, umhlambaluku, umhloboluku, | |
| Indigofera | |
| confusa (African Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| Dyes: | Roots produce a blue dye for mats and baskets. |
| Medicinal: | Roots for infertilty, menstrual cramps, gonorrhoea & stomach pains. |
| dimidiata (African Indigo) | |
| Cultural: | Used in mourning rites & as good luck charm |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for fevers |
| eriocarpa (African Indigo) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for dysentary. |
| hedyantha (Blackbud Indigo) ilidolo-lendoda, uluhlomantethe, | |
| Cultural: | Good luch charm. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for fevers. |
| hilaris var. hilaris (Red Indigo Bush) chubhujeje, | |
| hybrida (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| longebarbata (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| melanadenia (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| mollicoma (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| sanguinea (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| spicata var. spicata (Indigo) uhlomantethe, | |
| tinctoria var. arcuata (Indigo) | |
| Dyes: | Production of indigo blue dye, which replaced woad as a major dye. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves for neuralgea |
| velutina (Grey-leaved Indigo) isikhubabende, isiphungo, umphendulobomvu, | |
| Psoralea | |
| pinnata (Fountain Bush) umhlonishwa, | |
| Otholobium | |
| polyphyllum (Fountain Bush) | |
| Cultural: | Body wash for chiefs. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for head colds. |
| Tephrosia | |
| elongata var. elongata (Orange Tephrosia) isiwisa, | |
| Medicinal: | Emetic to cleanse stomach |
| grandiflora (Orange Tephrosia) | |
| Insecticidal: | An insecticide. & fish poison. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for chest ailments. |
| macropoda (Creeping Tephrosia) ilozane, | |
| Insecticidal: | Fish poison. |
| Medicinal: | Chest ailments, fevers, lice & internal parasites. |
| var. diffusa | |
| var. macropoda | |
| purpurea (Silver Tephrosia) ilozane, | |
| Insecticidal: | To kill vermin on people and animals |
| subsp. altissima | |
| subsp. leptostachya var. leptostachya | |
| subsp. leptostachya var. pubescens | |
| subsp. purpurea | |
| Mundulea | |
| sericea (Cork Bush) umsindzandlovana, | |
| Cultural: | Traditional divining medicine. In use after miscarriages. |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game and stock |
| Insecticidal: | Bark contains rotenone. Pesticidal. Used as fish poison. |
| Medicinal: | Bark as emetic. Used to treat human poisoning. |
| Sesbania | |
| punicea * (Cork Bush) | |
| Medicinal: | Leaves, flowers & seeds all known to be poisonous. |
| sesban (River Bean) umsokosoko, | |
| Fodder: | Forage & fodder. |
| Medicinal: | Used medicinally in Africa & Asia. |
| subsp. sesban var. nubica | |
| subsp. sesban var. sesban | |
| Ormocarpum | |
| trichocarpum (Caterpillar Pod) ingcongwane, sitsibane, umhlofunga, umtfombeni, | |
| Household: | Crafts |
| Medicinal: | Roots are medicinal for stomach complaints. Bark increases strength and stamina. |
| Zornia | |
| capensis subsp. capensis (Caterpillar Bean) umkhondo, | |
| Honey: | Visited by bees. |
| Cultural: | Charm to protect the unborn |
| Pseudarthria | |
| hookeri (Velvet Bean) uphandosi, uqhonqo, uqwashu, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots used to treat epilepsy. |
| var. argyrophylla | |
| var. hookeri | |
| Alysicarpus | |
| rugosus subsp. perennirufus (Pioneer Fodder Plant) imkonazana, untshiphintshiphi, | |
| Medicinal: | Chest complaints |
| Dalbergia | |
| armata (Thorny Rope) licobhe, umcobhe, | |
| Household: | Branchlets for basketry & calf muzzles |
| melanoxylon (Zebra Wood) licobhe, | |
| Timber: | Timber for construction. Useful wood but pieces often too small. |
| Medicinal: | Roots & bark prepared to treat toothache |
| obovata (Climbing Flatbean) umzungulu, | |
| Cultural: | Roots provide Zulu love charm. Ancestral communication aid. |
| Household: | Stems for fishing baskets, handicrafts, stools & sticks. Bark for twine. |
| Medicinal: | Bark preparation for sore mouths & stomachs in babies. Cures boils. |
| Pterocarpus | |
| angolensis (Wild Teak/Kiaat) umvangati, umvangatsi, umvangazi, | |
| Timber: | Timber for construction. Poles make live fences. |
| Dyes: | Red sap used as dye |
| Firewood: | Fire wood |
| Household: | Used for dishes, drums, paddles, bowls, spoons & furniture. Bark mixed with fat is a body ointment. |
| Medicinal: | Bark/root infusions for stomach, malaria, blackwater, bilharziasis. Red sap for nose bleeds=sympathetic magic. Many medicinal uses. |
| rotundifolius (Round-leaved Kiaat) indiebezindlovu, lidlebe-lendlovu, lidlebindlovu, sivangatane, | |
| Honey: | Popular with beekeepers. |
| Fodder: | Fodder & forage |
| Household: | Furniture & household utensils. |
| Medicinal: | Bark & root are medicinal. Bark for respiratory problems & vomiting. |
| subsp. polyanthus | |
| subsp. rotundifolius | |
| Abrus umphitsi, | |
| laevigatus (Round-leaved Kiaat) | |
| Medicinal: | Poisonous seeds. |
| precatorius subsp. africanus (Round-leaved Kiaat) | |
| Cultural: | Love charms |
| Household: | The poisonous seeds used as ornaments on ceramics or necklaces. |
| Medicinal: | Roots & leaves for chest complaints, contraceptive & abortifacient. |
| Neonotonia | |
| wightii (Round-leaved Kiaat) | |
| Food: | Vegetable |
| Erythrina umdvumbulu, | |
| abyssinica * (Round-leaved Kiaat) | |
| Household: | Seeds used as decorations on trinkets, bracelets & necklaces. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| crista-galli * (Round-leaved Kiaat) | |
| humeana (Dwarf Coral Tree) umnsinsana, | |
| Medicinal: | Root & bark extract used for tuberculosis, bronchitis & sprains. |
| latissima (Broad-leaved Coral Tree) inhlangu, siphama, siphamba, umgcwabagcwaba, umgewabagewaba, | |
| Household: | Seeds for Necklaces |
| Medicinal: | Bark burnt and powdered used for open sores |
| lysistemon (Sacred Coral Tree) siphama, umsinsi, | |
| Cultural: | Sacred qualities. Planted on graves. Soaking bark in water and then washing with it gives the respect of people to a chief. |
| Household: | Seeds for necklaces. Wood for carving, fishing floats & troughs. Musical instruments. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for open wounds & stomach purger. Leaf infusions for earache. Seed contains substances that prevent blood clotting. |
| Mucuna | |
| coriacea (Buffalo Bean) umkhokha, | |
| Medicinal: | An ingredient of some poisons in Haiti and West Africa. |
| subsp. coriacea | |
| subsp. irritans | |
| Canavalia | |
| virosa (Buffalo Bean) | |
| Medicinal: | Poisonous seeds. |
| Cajanus | |
| cajan * (Buffalo Bean) | |
| Food: | Edible seeds & leaves. |
| Rhynchosia mawungula, | |
| angulosa (Buffalo Bean) | |
| Medicinal: | Emetic. Also for chest complaints. |
| caribaea (Buffalo Bean) | |
| Medicinal: | Rheumatic pains and headaches |
| totta var. totta (Yellow Carpet Bean) igugude, ligugudze, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots medicinal for venereal disease. |
| Food: | Edible tubers |
| woodii (Yellow Carpet Bean) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| Eriosema | |
| cordatum (Heart-leaf Eriosema) umonoankunzi, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. Roots to treat impotence & frigidity. |
| Food: | Tubers eaten by Bushmen. |
| ellipticifolium (Heart-leaf Eriosema) | |
| Food: | Edible legume |
| nutans (Heart-leaf Eriosema) | |
| Food: | Root eaten by Venda. |
| psoraleoides (Yellow Seed) inhlaba, inhlula, madoda, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning protection |
| Medicinal: | Internal disorders. Roots are emetic and poison antidote. |
| Food: | Cooked fruits eaten by Zulus. |
| salignum (Brown Bonnets) ubangalala, uluphondongozi, uqonsi, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal to treat impotence, as expectorant & diuretic. |
| transvaalense inhlaba, madoda, | |
| Flemingia | |
| grahamiana (Stain Pod) indzabula luvalo, indzabulaluvalo, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots are used for male impotence & fever reduction. |
| Vigna | |
| unguiculata (Cow Pea) tindlubu, tinhlumayo, | |
| Cultural: | Love charm. |
| Medicinal: | Seeds for menstruation, epilepsy & chest pains |
| Food: | Edible leaves, pods & seeds. A commercial crop. |
| subsp. dekindtiana var. dekindtiana | |
| subsp. dekindtiana var. huillensis | |
| subsp. protracta | |
| subsp. stenophylla | |
| subsp. unguiculata | |
| vexillata (Wild Sweet Pea) mgcenga, | |
| Cultural: | Love charm. |
| Medicinal: | Fevers |
| Food: | Edible root |
| var. angustifolia | |
| var. davyi | |
| var. ovata | |
| var. vexillata | |
| Sphenostylis | |
| angustifolia (Wild Sweetpea Bush) insololo, ithethe, | |
| Fodder: | Good fodder. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal to cleanse stomach and blood |
| marginata subsp. marginata (Wild Sweetpea Bush) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal to cleanse stomach and blood |
| Lablab | |
| purpureus (Wild Sweetpea Bush) | |
| Fodder: | Feed & fodder plant |
| Food: | Edible leaves & young pods but must be properly cooked. Toxic. |
| subsp. purpureus | |
| subsp. uncinatus | |
| Dolichos | |
| angustifolius (Wild Sweetpea Bush) | |
| Food: | Roots are eaten in Lesotho. |
| Macrotyloma emagonsi, | |
| axillare var. axillare (Lime-yellow Pea) umgonsi, | |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game |
| Food: | Edible root |
| maranguense (Lime-yellow Pea) | |
| Food: | Edible parts |
| Craibia | |
| zimmermannii (Peawood) lwenyoka, umbambo, umphungwane, | |
| Timber: | Wood used to build grain storage huts. |
| Indigastrum | |
| fastigiatum (Slender Indigo) uluhlomantethe, | |
| Cultural: | Good luck charm. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for headaches. |
| Philenoptera | |
| violacea (Apple-leaf Tree) isihomohomo, sihhomuhhomu, sihomuhomu, umhomuhomu, umphandvo, | |
| Timber: | Fencing & timber for construction |
| Cultural: | Roots & leaves used for witchcraft and to clean sangoma bones. |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game & stock |
| Insecticidal: | Root a fish poison. |
| Household: | Carving & tool hamdles. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves a traditional medicine. Used as ordeal plant in West Africa. Smoke from burning roots a cold cure. Roots for snake bite. Bark is a diruetic |
Botanical order | SiSwati (alphabetical) | Usage (by category)
Swaziland's Flora DatabaseSwaziland's Alien Plants Database
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