Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Isolepis | |
| costata (Sedge) umuzi, | |
| Cultural: | Widow's headdress |
| Household: | Beer strainers |
| Indigofera | |
| confusa (African Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| Dyes: | Roots produce a blue dye for mats and baskets. |
| Medicinal: | Roots for infertilty, menstrual cramps, gonorrhoea & stomach pains. |
| dimidiata | |
| Cultural: | Used in mourning rites & as good luck charm |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for fevers |
| eriocarpa | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for dysentary. |
| hedyantha (Blackbud Indigo) ilidolo-lendoda, uluhlomantethe, | |
| Cultural: | Good luch charm. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for fevers. |
| hilaris var. hilaris (Red Indigo Bush) chubhujeje, | |
| hybrida (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| longebarbata (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| melanadenia (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| mollicoma (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| sanguinea (Indigo) chubhujeje, | |
| spicata var. spicata (Indigo) uhlomantethe, | |
| tinctoria var. arcuata | |
| Dyes: | Production of indigo blue dye, which replaced woad as a major dye. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves for neuralgea |
| velutina (Grey-leaved Indigo) isikhubabende, isiphungo, umphendulobomvu, | |
| Ilex | |
| mitis var. mitis (Cape Holly) inchitsamuti, incitamuzi, libofa, libota, | |
| Cultural: | If taken to homestead the family will fall apart. Cannot be burnt. Pieces of bark can be used as divining dice & witchcraft protection. |
| Household: | Wood makes good furniture but not often used. |
| Medicinal: | Bark is purgative & enema. Leaves also medicinal. |
| Food: | Edible fruits. Birds love them. |
| Impatiens | |
| hochstetteri (Wild Impatiens) ihula, umadolwane, | |
| Medicinal: | Remedies from leaves & stems for eczema |
| subsp. angolensis | |
| subsp. hochstetteri | |
| Ipomoea | |
| albivenia (Wooden Rose Creeper) imibuzana, ubatata wentaba, umgwiligwili, ungubasiswana, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal to purify blood |
| Food: | Edible tubers |
| bolusiana | |
| Food: | Vegetable. Edible roots |
| cairica var. cairica (Morning Glory) ihlambe, ijalamu, intana, umaholwana, | |
| Cultural: | Used for purification after funerals. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for rashes. |
| coscinosperma umdzandzabuka, | |
| crassipes (Leafy-flowered Ipomoea) vimbukhalo, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for dysentary, sores & hiccups. |
| Food: | Roots eaten raw. |
| ficifolia | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for stomach disorders & snakebites |
| oblongata bhogo, bhoqu, ubhogo, ubhoqo, | |
| Food: | Edible roots. |
| obscura var. obscura (Morning Glory Plant) umdzandzabuka, | |
| Medicinal: | Hallucinogenic |
| Food: | Leaves cooked as relish |
| papilio | |
| Food: | Young leaves cooked as spinach. |
| pellita (Grassland Ipomoea) ubhoqo, | |
| Cultural: | Love charm & protection from lightning. |
| Food: | Edible tuberous roots. A famine food. |
| plebeia subsp. africana umdzandzabuka, | |
| purpurea * (Common Morning Glory) ijalapha, ijalmu, ubhoqo, | |
| Cultural: | Protective and love charm. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for stomach disorders & purify blood. Seeds hallucinogenic. |
| Food: | Roots are a famine food. |
| sinensis subsp. blepharosepala umdzandzabuka, | |
| Isoglossa | |
| ciliata | |
| Honey: | Honey |
| Imperata | |
| cylindrica (Speargrass) umtsentse, | |
| Cultural: | Traditional uses. |
| Soil Conservation: | Erosion control but tends to be invasive. |
| Household: | Handicrafts |
| Food: | Edible root |
| Indigastrum | |
| fastigiatum (Slender Indigo) uluhlomantethe, | |
| Cultural: | Good luck charm. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for headaches. |
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