Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Acridocarpus | |
| natalitius (Moth-fruit) mabophe, mobophe, | |
| Cultural: | Is reputed to ward off dangers & give protection. Also a love charm. |
| var. linearifolius | |
| var. natalitius | |
| Andrachne | |
| ovalis (False Lightning Bush) umbesa, umbeza, | |
| Insecticidal: | Powdered roots an insecticide & snake repellent. Scalp parasites. |
| Medicinal: | Powdered roots used for chest complaints & headaches.. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Acalypha umsongo, | |
| angustata | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| capensis | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| caperonioides | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| depressinerva | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| ecklonii | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| glabrata var. glabrata | |
| 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 | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| indica | |
| Medicinal: | Herb for diarrhoea, expectorant & diuretic |
| var. bailloniana | |
| var. indica | |
| ornata | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| peduncularis | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| punctata | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| var. longifolia | |
| var. punctata | |
| var. rogersii | |
| sonderiana | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| villicaulis (Brooms and Brushes) umphendulo, | |
| Cultural: | Magic-medico to remove bad luck. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea. Used for wounds. |
| wilmsii | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| Apodytes | |
| dimidiata subsp. dimidiata (White Pear) umdzagane, umdzakane, | |
| Timber: | Poles for construction. Timber was used for wagons. |
| Household: | Wood for engraving, handicrafts, furniture & cattle yokes. |
| Medicinal: | Root as enema for intestinal parasites. Leaf for ear inflammation. |
| Food: | Boiled leaves can be eaten. |
| Allophylus inhlangushane, | |
| africanus var. africanus | |
| Cultural: | Magico-medicinal uses. |
| Food: | Edible fruit & leaves |
| decipiens | |
| Household: | Cabinets |
| Atalaya | |
| alata (Lebombo Wing-nut) inona, umnondo, | |
| Abutilon | |
| sonneratianum | |
| Medicinal: | A stimulant for bulls. |
| Aphloia | |
| theiformis | |
| Food: | Small, unpalatable but edible fruit. |
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