Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses - EUPHORBIACEAE
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
| Andrachne | |
| ovalis (False Lightning Bush) umbesa, umbeza, | |
| Insecticidal: | Powdered roots an insecticide & snake repellent. Scalp parasites. |
| Medicinal: | Powdered roots used for chest complaints & headaches.. |
| Heywoodia | |
| lucens (Stink Ebony) umndebele, umndzebelele, | |
| Timber: | Heavy, hard & strong but smelly timber. |
| Phyllanthus | |
| myrtaceus (Stink Ebony) | |
| Food: | Edible white berries. |
| pentandrus (Stink Ebony) | |
| 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. |
| Margaritaria | |
| discoidea (Pheasant Berry) ugusakhethelo, umadlozane, umdlulamazembe, umkwangu, umnandana, upata, | |
| Timber: | Dense, red timber. |
| Medicinal: | Bark relieves pain after childbirth. Burnt externally as stimulant. |
| var. discoidea | |
| var. fagifolia | |
| var. nitida | |
| Drypetes | |
| arguta (Water Ironplum) umkaswane, umkhashwane, | |
| Household: | Hard wood good for sticks and hut building. |
| Food: | Edible fruit can also be used to make an intoxicating liquor. |
| gerrardii (Forest Ironplum) umhlwakela, umhlwakele, | |
| Honey: | Nectar source for bees. |
| Household: | Hard, white wood used for sticks. |
| Food: | Edible fruit. |
| var. gerrardii | |
| mossambicensis (Forest Ironplum) | |
| Food: | Edible fruit |
| Antidesma | |
| venosum (Tasselberry Tree) bhekindoda, bhubhuludla, emabhubhuludla, hubulu, imhlalanyoni, imhlalanyoni, inhlalahubulu, umbhubhuludla, umhlalamahubhulu, umhlalanyoni, umshongi, | |
| Firewood: | Branches used as firewood. |
| Medicinal: | Root infusion used to bathe to relieve pain. Bark, leaves, fruit & roots used for stomach complaints. Roots used to treat barrenness. |
| Food: | Edible fruit & leaves. Root is toxic. |
| Bridelia | |
| cathartica (Blue Sweetberry) umnwangasi, | |
| Medicinal: | Fruit medicinal. |
| Food: | Edible fruit produced in big quantities. |
| subsp. cathartica | |
| subsp. melanthesoides var. melanthesoides | |
| micrantha (Velvet Sweetberry) imphisimakhata, mahlombe, umhlalamagwababa, umhlalamahubhulu, | |
| Timber: | Branches used for kraal construction. |
| Household: | Durable, termite resistant wood makes good furniture. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for eyes & for asthma. Root for stomach pains Powdered root mixed with oil and fats can relieve headaches. Leaf sap for sore eyes. |
| Food: | Edible fruit & leaves |
| Androstachys | |
| johnsonii (Lebombo Ironwood) bukhukhu, bukhunkhu, umsibitsi, umsimbitsi, | |
| Timber: | Valuable, termite proof wood used for poles & construction timber. |
| Cultural: | Traditional |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood. Gives off smell of honey when burning. |
| Medicinal: | Purgative |
| Croton | |
| gratissimus (Lavender Feverberry) mwulukwa, | |
| Timber: | Termite resistant wood used for construction. Stems for hut roofs. |
| Household: | Y-shaped branches used to make catapults. Leaves for perfume. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for bleeding gums & vomiting. Leaves coughs & fever. Poisonous. |
| var. gratissimus | |
| var. subgratissimus | |
| menyharthii (Rough-leaved Croton) mhuluka, mwulukwa, umkulaka, | |
| Cultural: | Roots for a good luck charm. |
| Medicinal: | Root decoction treats asthma.Leaves medicinal. |
| pseudopulchellus (Small Lavender Croton.) ihubeshane, | |
| Medicinal: | Decoction of root for asthma. Poisonous. |
| steenkampianus (Marsh Feverberry) mhuluka, mnyakeni, mwuluka, | |
| Cultural: | Bark a good luck charm for business. |
| Medicinal: | Bark used as emetic & for chest ailments. Steamed leaves releave aches. |
| sylvaticus (Forest Feverberry) nyakeni, | |
| Firewood: | Burns even when green. |
| Medicinal: | Leaf poultice for pleurisy. Bark for rheumatism. Poisonous. |
| Micrococca | |
| capensis (False Beadstring) ububu, | |
| Erythrococca | |
| menyharthii (False Beadstring) | |
| Food: | Fruits & leaves are edible. |
| natalensis (False Beadstring) | |
| Food: | Edible parts |
| Acalypha umsongo, | |
| angustata (False Beadstring) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| capensis (False Beadstring) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| caperonioides (False Beadstring) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| depressinerva (False Beadstring) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| ecklonii (False Beadstring) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| glabrata var. glabrata (False Beadstring) | |
| Timber: | Posts & poles |
| Household: | Baskets |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| Food: | Young twigs eaten like spinach. |
| glandulifolia (Red Catkins) ungibonisele, usununundu, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea. Emetic to improve health. |
| Food: | Roots eaten raw. |
| hochstetteriana (Red Catkins) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| indica (Red Catkins) | |
| Medicinal: | Herb for diarrhoea, expectorant & diuretic |
| var. bailloniana | |
| var. indica | |
| ornata (Red Catkins) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| peduncularis (Red Catkins) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| punctata (Red Catkins) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| var. longifolia | |
| var. punctata | |
| var. rogersii | |
| sonderiana (Red Catkins) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| villicaulis (Brooms and Brushes) umphendulo, | |
| Cultural: | Magic-medico to remove bad luck. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea. Used for wounds. |
| wilmsii (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for diarrhoea |
| Tragia imbabatane, | |
| benthamii (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| glabrata var. glabrata (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game |
| meyeriana (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| Fodder: | Browsed by game |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal to cause sexual excitement. |
| minor (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| okanyua (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| rupestris (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| sonderi (Brooms and Brushes) | |
| Ctenomeria | |
| capensis imbabatane, | |
| Medicinal: | Bark used as emetic. |
| Tragiella | |
| natalensis | |
| Dalechampia | |
| capensis (Wild Hop) imbabatane, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| Ricinus | |
| communis * (Castor Oil Plant) umhlafutfo, | |
| Medicinal: | Purgative. Leaves used in creams & ointments for wounds. Poisonous. |
| Jatropha | |
| curcas * (Castor Oil Plant) | |
| Household: | Oil used for candles and soap making. Poisonous. |
| Medicinal: | Oil is a purgative and toxic. Poisonous. |
| hirsuta (Hairy-leaved Jatropha) godzide, godzidze, | |
| Cultural: | Protective charm against lightning. |
| Medicinal: | Roots used for fever & wounds. Medicinal for dogs. |
| var. hirsuta | |
| var. oblongifolia | |
| variifolia (Glossy-leaved Jatropha) umsenge, | |
| zeyheri var. zeyheri godida, | |
| Medicinal: | Tuber for menstrual pain and to strengthen foetus |
| Food: | Leaves boiled for tea in Botswana. |
| Clutia | |
| monticola var. monticola (Branching Clutia) licimamlilo, licishamilo, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots used to help in respiration. |
| pulchella var. pulchella (Lightning Bush) ikhambi lenkosi, umembesa, | |
| Medicinal: | Widely used medeicinally. |
| Food: | Plants crushed and used in milk in Lesotho. |
| Suregada | |
| africana (Common Canary-berry) manyokane, sitfubi, ummemezi, velabahleke, vulabahleke, | |
| Cultural: | Roots are a charm to make people laugh. |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal |
| 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. |
| Euphorbia umhlonhlo, | |
| angrae (African Sandalwood) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| clavigera (Euphorbia) sihlonhlwana, | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| cooperi (Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach & bladder medicine. Roots for warts. Poisonous |
| var. calidicola | |
| var. cooperi | |
| cyathophora * (Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| epicyparissias (Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| ericoides (Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| grandicornis (Rhino Thorn) sinhlonhlwane, | |
| Cultural: | Lightning protection. |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine but also poisonous. Also used for cow parasites. |
| subsp. grandicornis | |
| subsp. sejuncta | |
| grandidens (Rhino Thorn) | |
| Cultural: | Traditionally associated with twins. |
| Household: | Sap has been used as glue. |
| gueinzii (Rhino Thorn) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| var. albovillosa | |
| var. gueinzii | |
| hirta * (Rhino Thorn) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for sore eyes. A garden weed. |
| hypericifolia (Rhino Thorn) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| inaequilatera var. inaequilatera (Rhino Thorn) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. Problem weed in citrus orchards. |
| indica * (Rhino Thorn) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| ingens (Common Tree Euphorbia) inshumpha, inshupa, umkloklo, | |
| Timber: | Can be used as planks after burning off sap and latex. |
| Cultural: | Lightning protection. |
| Insecticidal: | Fish poison. |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine, also poisonous. Honey made from it is harmful. Roots for toothache and decay. Toxic latex but used for cancer. |
| keithii (Common Tree Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| knobelii (Common Tree Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| knuthii (Euphorbia) sihlohlwana, siklonklwana, | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| neopolycnemoides (Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| prostrata * (Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. Problem weed in citrus orchards. |
| pulvinata (Prickle-leaved Euphorbia) sihlohlwana, | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| schinzii (Schinz's Euphorbia) sihlohlwana, | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| striata var. striata (Schinz's Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for stomach disorders |
| Food: | Edible parts added to sour milk. |
| tirucalli (Rubber Euphorbia) umdvute, umnduze, | |
| Dyes: | Dye for black cattle to lighten them. Black cattle King's perogative! |
| Insecticidal: | Insect repellent, insecticide & fish poison. |
| Medicinal: | Fruit for sexual impotence. (Can be poisonous, especially the latex). Roots are a cleanser. |
| transvaalensis (Rubber Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| triangularis (Rubber Euphorbia) | |
| Cultural: | Planted outside huts for protection of twins. |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine but also poisonous |
| zambesiana var. zambesiana (Rubber Euphorbia) | |
| Medicinal: | Stomach medicine. |
| 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. |
| Monadenium | |
| lugardiae umdlebe, | |
| Cultural: | Used by diviners for clear vision. |
| Medicinal: | An abortifacient & for stomach & chest pains. Also poisonous. |
| Manihot | |
| esculenta * (Sweet Potato) bhatata, | |
| Medicinal: | Roots for scabies. Toxic |
| Food: | Edible roots & leaves prepared with care to avoid toxicity. Starch used to make tapioca. |
| Flueggea | |
| virosa subsp. virosa (White-berry Bush) bhubhubhu, mahlanganisa, umhlangamisa, | |
| Medicinal: | Root for malaria. Bark for diarrhoea & pneumonia |
| Food: | Edible fruit. |
| Aleurites | |
| moluccana * (White-berry Bush) | |
| Household: | Oily seed kernals crushed and used as a fuel for a torch or candle. |
| Sclerocroton | |
| integerrimum (Jumping Seed Tree) umhlalampunsi, umhlalampunzi, | |
| Timber: | Hard durable wood for hut building & general use. |
| Dyes: | Fruits can be used for tanning. |
| Household: | Attractive furniture. Has been used to produce ink. |
| Medicinal: | Root infusion as mouthwash and for toothache. |
| Shirakiopsis | |
| elliptica (Jumping-seed Tree) umhlepha, | |
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by botanical name - families:
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