Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Spirostachys | |
| africana (African Sandalwood) umtfombotsi, | |
| Timber: | Hard, heavy, close-grained, durable wood is termite proof. |
| Cultural: | Traditionally the tree is feared almost taboo. A "jumping bean" tree. |
| Insecticidal: | Wood has insect-repellent properties. |
| Household: | Handicrafts, sculptures & furniture. Sawdust is an irritant. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for back-ache, emetic & infertility. Smoke semi-poisonous. |
| Synadenium | |
| cupulare (Dead Man's Tree) sidletjana, | |
| Cultural: | By superstition an evil tree luring people to death. Irritant vapour. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves for headache, toothache, asthma & eyes. Poisonous. |
| Sclerocarya | |
| birrea subsp. caffra (Marula) emaganu, umganu, | |
| Timber: | Timber |
| Dyes: | Dye is obtained from bark. |
| Cultural: | Bark used to determine sex of unborn & to remove bad luck. |
| Fodder: | Fodder & forage. Leaves browsed by animals & elephants strip bark. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Wood does not crack easily. Used for handicrafts & household Items |
| Medicinal: | Bark for dysentary, diarrhoea, malaria. |
| Food: | Edible fruit, nuts & leaves. Important source for beer & liquors. |
| Schinus | |
| terebinthifolius * | |
| Honey: | Source of nectar for honeybees. |
| Food: | Berries produce red peppercorns. Poisonous in quantity. |
| Scutia | |
| myrtina (Cat-thorn) siphingo, | |
| Food: | Edible but astringent fruit |
| Sida | |
| acuta indlekwane, | |
| Household: | Married women's hair style |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| subsp. acuta | |
| alba subsp. acuta indlekwane, | |
| Household: | Married women's hair style |
| Food: | Edible leaves. |
| cordifolia | |
| Fodder: | Browsed by cattle. |
| dregei (Spider-leg) indlekwane, umgayingu, | |
| Medicinal: | Treat sores |
| rhombifolia subsp. rhombifolia (Spider-leg) indlekwane, ivivane, | |
| Household: | Married women's hair style |
| Sterculia | |
| murex (Lowveld Chestnut) gebeleweni, umbhaba, | |
| Cultural: | Bark used to protect hometeads from witchcraft. |
| Food: | Edible seeds are rich in oils. |
| rogersii (Common Star-Chestnut) lilumbo, lumbu, sibhansi, sibhosa, ulumba, | |
| Cultural: | Planted to protect against lightning. |
| Household: | Fishing nets, threads, sleeping mats & strong rope from bark fibre |
| Food: | Edible seeds are rich in oils. |
| Scolopia litabhane, | |
| mundii (Red Pear) senzelenja, | |
| Household: | Pale brown wood for furniture. |
| Medicinal: | Could be potential source of scopoline - thus to hide a crime. |
| Food: | Edible root. Fruits may be poisonous when first picked but become OK. |
| zeyheri (Thorn Pear) umbabanga, umbadlanga, umtapana, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots medicinal for chest pains and a pain killer. Also male aphrodisiac. |
| Syzygium umncozi, umugumence, | |
| cordatum (Waterberry) tincozi, umcozi, umgcosi, umngcosi, | |
| Timber: | Building timber water resistant. |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Medicinal: | Bark as emetic and for stomach problems. |
| Food: | Edible fruit but acidic. Makes good jelly and wine. |
| cumini * | |
| Medicinal: | Bark & seeds are astringent & anti-diabetic. Lowers blood levels. |
| Food: | Edible fruit but acidic. |
| gerrardii | |
| Household: | Wood suitable for flooring, paneling & furniture. |
| Medicinal: | Bark infusion of chest complaints. |
| Food: | Edible fruit |
| guineense | |
| Honey: | Nectar source for bees. |
| Medicinal: | Root or bark infusion medicinal for diarrhoea but can be poisonous. |
| Food: | Edible fruit |
| subsp. afromontanum | |
| subsp. guineense | |
| Schefflera | |
| umbellifera (False Cabbage Tree) umsengembuti, umusenge mbuti, | |
| Cultural: | Bark is a good luck charm & acquistion of metaphysical powers. |
| Household: | Doors for huts, fruit boxes & matches. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves medicinal for rheumatism & malaria. |
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