Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Phymaspermum | |
| acerosum (Geelblombos) isibhaha-segceke, umhlonishwa, | |
| Cultural: | Used as a charm to avert lightening. |
| Pteridium | |
| aquilinum (Bracken Fern) luhlindzafuku, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots make teas for rickets, stomach cramps, diarrhea, worms & male sexual impotence.. |
| Food: | Young fronds eaten in parts of the world (Japan) but only after substantial cooking. Otherwise they are poisonous. |
| Pellaea | |
| calomelanos var. calomelanos (Hard Fern) umphasatje, | |
| Medicinal: | Wide medicinal use. Rhizome decoction used for sores & boils. |
| Pleopeltis | |
| macrocarpa (Scaly Lance-fern) gebeleweni, | |
| Paspalum | |
| dilatatum * | |
| Soil Conservation: | Erosion control |
| Fodder: | Pasture. Ergot infestation can be poisonous causing "tremors". |
| distichum | |
| Fodder: | Palatable for sheep in winter. |
| notatum * | |
| Soil Conservation: | Erosion control |
| Fodder: | Pasture and fodder. |
| scrobiculatum | |
| Fodder: | Pasture but can be contaminated with poisonous ergot. |
| Food: | Grain is edible and like millet. Subject to ergot infestation. |
| urvillei * | |
| Fodder: | Pasture and for hay. |
| Household: | Old inflorescences used for whisk brooms. |
| vaginatum | |
| Soil Conservation: | Erosion control |
| Fodder: | Potential pasture on saline soils |
| Panicum lubabe, | |
| aequinerve | |
| Fodder: | Fodder |
| coloratum var. coloratum | |
| Fodder: | Fodder & palatable and drought resistant pasture. |
| deustum | |
| Fodder: | Fodder. Palatable & nutritious pasture |
| Household: | Grass mats. |
| dregeanum | |
| Fodder: | Pasture. |
| ecklonii | |
| hymeniochilum | |
| Fodder: | Fodder |
| infestum | |
| Fodder: | Fodder |
| laticomum | |
| Fodder: | Fodder |
| maximum | |
| Fodder: | Cattle fodder & grazing. Planted for hay and pasture. Sugar cane weed. |
| Food: | Cereal food |
| natalense | |
| Fodder: | |
| schinzii | |
| Fodder: | Palatable pasture and good hay. |
| subalbidum | |
| Fodder: | Fodder |
| Food: | Edible grain. |
| Pennisetum | |
| clandestinum * (Kikuya Grass) tjanibengadze, | |
| Soil Conservation: | Erosion control |
| Fodder: | Cultivated summer pasture. Can be troublesome weed. |
| purpureum * | |
| Fodder: | Cultivated pasture for grazing. |
| Food: | Edible young leaves and shoots. |
| thunbergii (Pearl Millet) bhabhala, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| Food: | Edible grain. A commercial crop. |
| Phragmites umhlanga, | |
| australis (Common Reed) lishane, umklanga, | |
| Timber: | Construction & screens. |
| Cultural: | Umlanga dance |
| Household: | Basketry. Making flutes - umntjingozi. In olden days whipsticks. |
| Medicinal: | Stem liquid for expectorant & pain relief |
| Food: | Edible rhizomes |
| mauritianus | |
| Cultural: | Umlanga dance |
| Household: | Screens & thatch |
| Pogonarthria | |
| squarrosa | |
| Fodder: | Fodder |
| Pteleopsis | |
| myrtifolia (Pteleopsis) umwandla, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. |
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