Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Encephalartos sijekwane, gebeleweni, | |
| aplanatus (Cycad) mayiphuku, | |
| heenanii (Wooly Cycad) lisitsa, mayiphuku, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning conductor |
| Food: | Stems contain edible pith. Makes good quality starch |
| laevifolius (Bread Palm Cycad) lisitsa, mayiphuku, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning conductor |
| Food: | Stems contain edible pith. Makes good quality starch |
| lebomboensis | |
| Food: | Stems contain edible pith. Makes good quality starch |
| ngoyanus | |
| paucidentatus (Barberton Cycad) lisitsa, mayiphuku, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning conductor |
| Food: | Stems contain edible pith. Makes good quality starch |
| senticosus | |
| striatus (Bread Palm Cycad) siphezane, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning conductor |
| Food: | Stems contain edible pith. Makes good quality starch |
| villosus (Ground Cycad) lisitsa, mayiphuku, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning conductor. Protective charm for longevity. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for longevity |
| Food: | Stems contain edible pith. Makes good quality starch |
| Elaphoglossum | |
| acrostichoides (Elephant Ear Fern) ebeleweni, gebeleweni, sikelpe, | |
| Eriospermum | |
| flagelliforme | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal in Zimbabwe for depressed fontanelle. |
| mackenii (Yellow Fluffy-seed) insulansula, | |
| Cultural: | Makes people forget to be angry. Charm against lightning. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. |
| subsp. galpinii | |
| subsp. mackenii | |
| Eucomis | |
| autumnalis subsp. clavata (Common Pineapple Flower) makhandakansele, matfunga, | |
| Cultural: | Stops witchcraft & slow poisoning. |
| Medicinal: | Bulb for backache, stomach-ache, fractures, syphilis, fevers & bilharzia. Heals interior wounds & fractures. |
| Eulophia | |
| angolensis | |
| Cultural: | Used as love charm. |
| ensata iphamba lentaba, | |
| Cultural: | Infusion of tubers as love charm. |
| leontoglossa (Lion's Tongue) iphamba , | |
| Cultural: | Protective charm against lightning. |
| ovalis ihamba lesigo, phamba, | |
| Cultural: | Infusion of tubers used by young men when courting. |
| var. bainesii | |
| var. ovalis | |
| parviflora imfeyamasele, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. |
| petersii liphakama-laphansi, | |
| Cultural: | Love Charm |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| speciosa | |
| Cultural: | Protective charm against storms. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal emetic |
| streptopetala | |
| Medicinal: | Tuber infusion used by young men when courting |
| welwitschii | |
| Cultural: | Infusion of tubers used by young men when courting. |
| Erianthemum inovu, | |
| dregei | |
| Cultural: | Trapping birds. Bird lime. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for stomach complaints & for common ailments in children. |
| Food: | Edible fruits. |
| ngamicum | |
| Cultural: | Trapping birds. Bird lime. |
| Emex | |
| australis | |
| Food: | Young leaves used as spinach. Used as source of Vitamin C on ships. |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
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