Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005

From time immemorial Homo sapiens ascribed a name to the plants that they used for various purposes. These names varied from place to place and were expressed in many different languages. A common base for names that could be understood around the world was needed. A Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus (1707 - 1778) devised a binomial system of botanical nomenclature that it is still in use today. Names were of Latin, (the international language of the day), or Greek origin and were often descriptive of some feature of the plant. These names were supposed to be a permanent marker for that species but as time went on it was found that different names had been attached to the same plant by different botanists, in different places, and there was disparity as to the family and even the genus to which they were attached. So what was supposed to be a permanent marker became subject to change. It becomes important to be aware of these changes when discussing Swazi Flora and if possible to use only the latest recognized Latin botanical name.

Throughout the listing I have chosen to include one, and one only, English common name for each species. For many there exist multiple English common names and my choice as to which one to use is arbitrary. Preference was given to African over European or North American names; English was preferred over Afrikaans; and descriptive names chosen over a repeat of the Latin name.

SiSwati names and uses, arranged by alphabetically by botanical name

SiSwati names and uses, arranged by botanical name by families: