Swaziland's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
Usage Category: Cultural
| Callilepis laureola (Ox-eye Daisy) mila, | |
| Protective charm. | |
| Canthium ciliatum (Dwarf Turkey-berry) mvutfwamini, mvutwamira, | |
| Magico-medico uses. | |
| Capparis sepiaria var. citrifolia (Wild Caper Bush) | |
| Magical properties to protect from lightning and ward off evil. | |
| Capparis tomentosa (Woolly Caper Bush) imphololwane, impololwane, indodebomvu, indodebovu, ingongola, inkunzibovu, | |
| Traditional. Magico properties to prevent floods & ward off evil spirits. | |
| Cardiospermum grandiflorum (Balloon Vine) uzipho, | |
| Wreaths worn by widows at funerals by Asante | |
| Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana (Sjambok Pod) | |
| Magical properties. Meat cooked over it ensures successful hunting. | |
| Cassinopsis ilicifolia (Lemon Thorn) sihloko, | |
| Branches used for King's hut. | |
| Celtis africana (White Stinkwood) liklolo, liklolo lelikhulu, luhlolo lolukhulu, mbelangoma, umvumvu, | |
| Wood believed to have magical, protective qualities. | |
| Celtis mildbraedii (Natal White Stinkwood) sicalaba, uzinhlu, zinhlu, | |
| Traditional | |
| Centella glabrata var. natalensis (Persiegras) isiwisa, | |
| Charm against hail | |
| Chamaecrista mimosoides (Fishbone Dwarf Cassia) imbubu, umbonisela, | |
| Traditionally to induce sleep and recall dreams. | |
| Cheilanthes quadripinnata (Four-pinnate Lip Fern) quphulaka, | |
| Can be used to drive away evil spirits. | |
| Citrullus lanatus (Bitter Melon) beche, litjoti, | |
| A charm to prevent worms from damaging crops | |
| Clausena anisata var. anisata (Horsewood) umbangadloti, umnukalampimba, umnukelambiba, umnukelambila, | |
| Traditional to hold new born Xhosa babies in the wood smoke to fumigate them and stop bad spirits. Swazi King uses to give strength. | |
| Cleome monophylla (African Cabbage) isiwisa esiluhlaza, | |
| Love charm emetic | |
| Clerodendrum glabrum var. glabrum (White Cat's Whiskers) umphehlacwatsi, umphelacwatsi, | |
| Scattered for ancestors. A rain tree. | |
| Coleochloa setifera (Scurvy Grass) lutindzi, | |
| For necklace worn after appearance of Mlentengamunye | |
| Combretum apiculatum subsp. apiculatum (Red Bushwillow) imbondvo lemhlophe, imbondvo lemnyama, umbondomnyama, | |
| Used in Royal cattle-kraal at Incwala ceremonies & funerals. | |
| Combretum collinum (Weeping Bushwillow) imbondvo lemhlophe, | |
| Used for Royal cattle-kraal at Incwala ceremonies & funerals. | |
| Combretum imberbe (Leadwood) impondozendhlovu, liphodva lendlovu, luphondvo lwendlovu, mpondozendlovu, phondotendlovu, ummono, umphulumbu, | |
| Hereros believe the trees are ancestors. | |
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Food | Medicinal | Household | Firewood | Insecticidal | Fodder | Soil Conservation | Cultural | Dyes | Honey | Timber | Other
Botanical order | SiSwati (alphabetical) | Usage (by category)
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