Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Ornithogalum | |
| flexuousum | |
| Medicinal: | Poisonous properties |
| juncifolium (Grass-leaved Chincherinchee) indlolothi encane, | |
| Cultural: | Protection against storms and evil. |
| saundersiae | |
| Medicinal: | Poisonous properties |
| tenuifolium | |
| Cultural: | Charm that can be used for good or evil. |
| Food: | Edible bulb roasted it tastes like onion. Also said to be poisonous. |
| subsp. aridum | |
| subsp. tenuifolium | |
| Obetia | |
| tenax (Rock Tree Nettle) lusontfo, lusotfo, lutiya, | |
| Household: | Bark fibre can be made into a cord or rope. Used for thatching. |
| Food: | Leaves edible as spinach |
| Osyris | |
| lanceolata (Rock Tanninbush) umbulunyatsi, | |
| Dyes: | Bark used for tannin. |
| Osyridicarpus | |
| schimperianus malala, mayime, | |
| Cultural: | Protective charm. |
| Medicinal: | Remedy for unwell babies and makes them sleep well. |
| Olax | |
| dissitiflora (Small Sourplum) mampuzane, mshampuzana, umshamphunzana, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| Oxygonum | |
| dregeanum (Starstalk) umdambane, umkhandu, untabane, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for whooping and other coughs. |
| Food: | Edible leaves. |
| subsp. canescens var. canescens | |
| subsp. canescens var. lobophyllum | |
| subsp. dregeanum | |
| subsp. lanceolatum | |
| subsp. swazicum | |
| Otholobium | |
| polyphyllum | |
| Cultural: | Body wash for chiefs. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for head colds. |
| Ormocarpum | |
| trichocarpum (Caterpillar Pod) ingcongwane, sitsibane, umhlofunga, umtfombeni, | |
| Household: | Crafts |
| Medicinal: | Roots are medicinal for stomach complaints. Bark increases strength and stamina. |
| Oxalis simunyamunyane, | |
| corniculata * | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for snakebite. |
| Food: | Edible leaves & flowers |
| davyana (Wood Sorrel) simunyane, | |
| Food: | Edible leaves |
| latifolia * | |
| Honey: | Flowers visited by honey-bees. |
| obliquifolia | |
| Honey: | Honey plant. |
| Food: | Edible leaves |
| purpurea | |
| Food: | Leaves are used to flavour and peeled tubers are edible |
| smithiana | |
| Medicinal: | Tapeworm remedy |
| Food: | Edible leaves & corms |
| Oricia | |
| bachmannii (Twin-berry Tree) umbotane, | |
| Household: | Wood a favourite for making bows. |
| Food: | Edible orange coloured fruit. |
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