Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
Usage Category: Cultural
| Kyllinga melanosperma | |
| Widow's headdress To make necklace for Mlentengamunye | |
| Kyllinga odorata | |
| Widow's headdress To make necklace for Mlentengamunye | |
| Lagenaria siceraria (Wild Melon) inshubaba, iselwa, liselwa, ntshubaba, shubaba, | |
| Used in ceremonies after death of a chief. | |
| Lannea antiscorbutica (Live-long) bulibati, intfokolovu, intokolovu, sikhanganyane, singanganyane, umganunkhomo, | |
| Roots used to protect hometead from witchcraft. | |
| Lannea schweinfurthii var. stuhlmannii (False Marula) umgabunkhomo, | |
| "Tree of forgetfulness". Harbours benevolent spirit to protect & heal. | |
| Linum thunbergii (Wild Flax) ithalelimpofu, | |
| Charm to prevent accidents. | |
| Liparis bowkeri (Twayblade) | |
| Good luck or love charm. | |
| Lippia javanica (Lemon Bush) luhlanga, msutane, musutane, mutshwane, mutswane, umsutane, umswazi, | |
| For ritual cleansing after contact with corpse & for protection from dogs, crocodiles & lightning. | |
| Littonia modesta (Climbing Bells) luhlamvu, | |
| Ensures birth of girl child. All parts of plants are toxic. | |
| Lobelia erinus (Edging Lobelia) impenjana, incamathela, isidala esiluhlaza, | |
| To wash divining bones | |
| Lotononis eriantha (Russet Lotononis) | |
| Traditional charm | |
| Lotononis foliosa (Bookleaved Lotononis) isisinini sentaba, | |
| Traditionally used to ensure good crops. | |
| Maerua rosmarinoides (Needle-leaved Bush Cherry) mankhweni, umzane, umzawe, | |
| Roots used as good luck charm. | |
| Maesa lanceolata (False Assegaai) indende, ligucu, magucu, maygugu, mbhongozi, phophopho, umbhongozi, umbhungubhungu, umbohlobohlo, umbongambonga, | |
| Used in cleansing process after a death in the family. Bark or roots used as good luck charm. | |
| Maytenus peduncularis (Cape Blackwood) umboyi, | |
| Sticks are wielded by dancers at Incwala ceremonies | |
| Maytenus undata (Koko Tree) sibiyabandla, umbatacwepe, umbatancwephe, | |
| Branches used in traditional ceremonies. | |
| Mentha aquatica (Water Mint) mayime, | |
| Protective charm against evil spirits. | |
| Microcoelia exilis (Pin-head Orchid) | |
| Used as love charm. | |
| Monadenium lugardiae umdlebe, | |
| Used by diviners for clear vision. | |
| Monanthotaxis caffra (Dwaba Berry) imxope, libunza, masweleti, masweti, sititane, umtitane, umxobhe, | |
| Burial shroud. Magical properties tree - a charm against nightmares. | |
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Botanical order | SiSwati (alphabetical) | Usage (by category)
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