Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Garcinia | |
| gerrardii (Forest Mangosteen) sikhelamfene, | |
| Insecticidal: | Latex from roots a snail poison. |
| Food: | Edible fruit. Also for alcholic beverage. |
| livingstonei (African Mangosteen) isinpula, isinyula, lisimpula, senyula, sinyula, | |
| Timber: | General purpose timber |
| Medicinal: | Leaves and flowers show antibiotic properties. Powdered root an aphrodisiac. |
| Food: | Edible fruit with juicy, acid sweet pulp. |
| Gerrardina | |
| foliosa (Krantz Berry) maluleka, | |
| Gnidia | |
| caffra umshanyelo, | |
| Household: | To make brooms |
| capitata mabophe, | |
| Cultural: | "Muti" to make people agree. Divining torch to discover thieves. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. |
| kraussiana var. kraussiana (Yellow Head) umsilawengwe, umsilawengwenya, | |
| Medicinal: | Toothache and an abortifacient. Snakebites. Poisonous. Roots & leaves for dizziness. Has been used as arrow poison. |
| splendens (Lesser Yellow Head) umshanyelo, | |
| Household: | To make brooms |
| Medicinal: | Lumbago, sore throats & snakebites |
| Galpinia | |
| transvaalica (Wild Pride-of-India) umdvubu, | |
| Gunnera | |
| perpensa (River Pumpkin) cobho, gobho, qobho, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots for menstrual pain & male impotence. Also treating cows. |
| Food: | Edible stalks, stems & roots. Used for making beer. |
| Gonioma | |
| kamassi (Kamassi) gala-gala, | |
| Household: | Carving & implement handles. Wood contains poisonous alkaloids. |
| Graderia | |
| scabra (Wild Penstemon) impundu, | |
| Cultural: | Love charm emetic. Anti-strike lightning. |
| Medicinal: | Stomach complaints, fevers, menstrual pain |
| Gardenia umvalasangweni, umvalasangani, | |
| cornuta | |
| Cultural: | Pegs around homestead ward off evil influences. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Medicinal: | Fruits & roots an emetic. |
| Food: | Fruits are edible but considered a famine food. |
| thunbergia | |
| Household: | Wood used for tools and implement handles. |
| Medicinal: | Infusion of root an emetic & for leprosy. Leaves used for syphilis. |
| volkensii (Transvaal Gardenia) emangwe lamhlophe, sivalasangweni, | |
| Timber: | Construction timber. |
| Cultural: | Hut protection. Charm against evil spirits. |
| Fodder: | Leaves are eaten by game and stock. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Household utensils. Spoons, ornaments etc. |
| Medicinal: | Infusion of roots and fruit as an emetic. Used for intestinal worms. Roots as an analgesic. |
| subsp. spatulifolia | |
| subsp. volkensii var. saundersiae | |
| subsp. volkensii var. volkensii | |
| Galium | |
| capense subsp. garipense (Bedstraw) intila lubombo, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| Gerrardanthus | |
| macrorhizus isisema sehlathi, | |
| Medicinal: | Purgative for pregnant women |
| Page: 1 2 3 | |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
| J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R |
| S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Search for flora information: Enter any name or part of a name in the appropriate box:
Search for photos/illustrations: Enter any name or part of a name in the appropriate box:
Website hosting sponsored by the Natural History Society of Eswatini
