Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name:
| Xyris umuzi, | |
| capensis | |
| Household: | Beer strainers |
| rehmannii | |
| Cultural: | Widow's headdress |
| Household: | Beer strainers |
| Xerophyta sifunti, | |
| equisetoides var. equisetoides | |
| Household: | Making ropes & handicrafts |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| retinervis (Monkey's Tail) intatzwa, | |
| Cultural: | Charm against lightning. |
| Household: | Making ropes, brushes, spoons & handicrafts. Stems as pot scourers. |
| Medicinal: | Roots for asthma |
| Ximenia umtfundvuluka, | |
| americana (Blue Sourplum) ematfundvuluka, sikholonjwane, umkhorotjane, | |
| Household: | Seeds for an oil which softens leather & can be used cosmeticaly. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for infant maladies. Leaves for coughs, fevers and wounds. Roots are used for snake bites. |
| Food: | Edible but sour fruit. Also used for making beer. |
| var. americana | |
| var. microphylla | |
| caffra (Large Sourplum) ematfundfuluka, emathunduluka, umftundvuluka, umftunvuluka, umthundulukwa, | |
| Cultural: | Ground roots mixed with cow dung and spread on the floor will ward off witches. |
| Household: | Seeds for an oil which softens leather & can be used cosmeticaly. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves for inflamed eyes. Bark & roots for asthma, flu and other ailments. The whole plant is used to treat weight loss. |
| Food: | Edible fruit with tangy taste. Makes jams and jellies. |
| var. caffra | |
| var. natalensis | |
| Xylopia | |
| odoratissima | |
| Cultural: | Roots are powerful "muti" |
| Xymalos | |
| monospora (Lemonwood) imphisimakhata, umphisi-makhata, | |
| Firewood: | Making fire. But also reported to be fire-resistant. |
| Household: | Yellow wood used for furniture. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for gastro-intestinal complaints. |
| Xysmalobium | |
| asperum (Sandpaper Cartwheel) umdzayana, | |
| Food: | Edible leaves |
| confusum (Bitter Wood) lichogina, | |
| Medicinal: | For dogs that steal food |
| involucratum (Scented Xysmalobium) udambisa omkhulu, | |
| Cultural: | Sprinkling charm against evil. |
| orbiculare (False Thick-fruit) lichogina, | |
| Medicinal: | For dogs that steal food |
| undulatum (Bitter Wood) lishongwe, umdzayi, | |
| Dyes: | Dyes. |
| Insecticidal: | Aromatic & pesticidal. |
| Medicinal: | Roots for indigestion, fever, colds, diarrhoea & urethral discharge. |
| Food: | Young leaves are edible |
| Xanthium | |
| spinosum * (Cockleburs) iligcume, | |
| Medicinal: | Seeds, seedling leaves & young shoots are poisonous to stock. |
| strumarium * | |
| Medicinal: | Seeds, seedling leaves & young shoots are poisonous to stock. |
| Xenostegia | |
| tridentata subsp. angustifolia | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach complanits |
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