Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Parinari umkhuna, | |
| capensis (Mobola Plum) imvimbandhlebe, mebulwa, umkuna, umvalandhlebe, umvimbandlebe, | |
| subsp. capensis | |
| subsp. incohata | |
| capensis subsp. incohata | |
| Timber: | Timber for construction |
| Medicinal: | Bark for pneumonia & roots for toothache |
| Food: | Edible fruit produced in huge quantities. Edible nuts. |
| capensis subsp. capensis | |
| Medicinal: | Bark for pneumonia & roots for toothache. Leaf for diarrhoea. |
| Food: | Edible fruit are very life sustaining. Nuts also eaten. |
| curatellifolia (Mobola Plum) mabulwa, | |
| Piliostigma | |
| thonningii | |
| Household: | Fruits used as substitute for soap. Bark fibre used for string & rope. |
| Medicinal: | All parts of tree widely used for medicinal purposes. |
| Food: | Mealy portion of pod considered a famine food. Monkey's bread. |
| Peltophorum | |
| africanum (African Wattle) isikhabakhombe, lisikhabakhombe, mahabiya, mashubane, mphunganko, mphungankomo, umkhabamkhombe, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Cultural: | A panacea against bad luck and evil spirits. A "rain" tree. Bark used by men to attract women. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Handicrafts, carving, utensils. |
| Medicinal: | Bark chewed to relieve colic and stomach disorders. Roots used for gastroenteritis. |
| Psoralea | |
| pinnata (Fountain Bush) umhlonishwa, | |
| Pseudarthria | |
| hookeri (Velvet Bean) uphandosi, uqhonqo, uqwashu, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots used to treat epilepsy. |
| var. argyrophylla | |
| var. hookeri | |
| Pterocarpus | |
| angolensis (Wild Teak/Kiaat) umvangati, umvangatsi, umvangazi, | |
| Timber: | Timber for construction. Poles make live fences. |
| Dyes: | Red sap used as dye |
| Firewood: | Fire wood |
| Household: | Used for dishes, drums, paddles, bowls, spoons & furniture. Bark mixed with fat is a body ointment. |
| Medicinal: | Bark/root infusions for stomach, malaria, blackwater, bilharziasis. Red sap for nose bleeds=sympathetic magic. Many medicinal uses. |
| rotundifolius (Round-leaved Kiaat) indiebezindlovu, lidlebe-lendlovu, lidlebindlovu, sivangatane, | |
| Honey: | Popular with beekeepers. |
| Fodder: | Fodder & forage |
| Household: | Furniture & household utensils. |
| Medicinal: | Bark & root are medicinal. Bark for respiratory problems & vomiting. |
| subsp. polyanthus | |
| subsp. rotundifolius | |
| Pelargonium | |
| alchemilloides (Pink Trailing Pelargonium) inkubele, ishwaqa, umangqengqe, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for fever, diarrhoea & wounds. |
| luridum (Stalk-flowered Pelargonium) lishaca, lishaga, vendle, | |
| Cultural: | Roots are a love charm. |
| Medicinal: | Tubers for diarrhooea, dysentary & nausea. Threatened abortion. |
| Ptaeroxylon | |
| obliquum (Sneezewood) umsatsi, | |
| obliquum (Sneezewood) umtsatse, umtsatsi, | |
| Timber: | Termite proof timber for construction, has high mass & resists decay. Wood very inflammable due to volatile oil. |
| Insecticidal: | Sawdust & wood act as insect repellent. |
| Firewood: | Excellent firewood & used to make fire by friction. |
| Household: | Crafts. Termite proof furniture. Effective machine bearings. |
| Medicinal: | Snuff for headaches. Resin for warts |
| Polygala | |
| amatymbica | |
| Medicinal: | A stimulant for cattle |
| hottentotta (Small Purple Broom) umanqandi, uzekane, | |
| Medicinal: | Abdominal complaints & anthrax. Stems & roots are aromatic. |
| rehmannii | |
| Cultural: | Love potion & charm |
| serpentaria longangendlela, | |
| Cultural: | Love charm. |
| Medicinal: | Purgative enema for children & for snake bites |
| virgata (Purple Broom) umabopha, | |
| Honey: | Bees pollinate the flowers. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal as a blood purifier |
| var. decora | |
| var. virgata | |
| Phyllanthus | |
| myrtaceus | |
| Food: | Edible white berries. |
| pentandrus | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| reticulatus var. reticulatus (Potato Bush) calekile, intaba-yengwe, intsabayengwe, nhlanhla, nklankla, | |
| Dyes: | Fruit produce a dark dye used for fishing nets. |
| Fodder: | Browsed by stock and game even though fruits and roots may be toxic. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves & fruits for sores & burns. Crushed roots & leaves are inhaled. |
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