Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses - EBENACEAE
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
| Euclea umdlelanyamatane, | |
| crispa subsp. crispa (Blue Guarri) inchitsamuti, indodennyama, indvodzemnyama, nyamatanemkhulu, sijele, umndlela, | |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Household: | Stools & handicrafts. Branches used for craftwork. |
| Timber: | Timber for construction |
| Dyes: | Dark brown dye from roots used for basketry. |
| Medicinal: | Roots for epilepsy & an emetic also to pevent miscarriages. Bark & leaf for diabetes. Roots for constipation in children. |
| Food: | Edible but small fruit |
| daphnoides (Magic Guarri) indvodzemnyama, | |
| divinorum (Magic Guarri) indlelanyamatane-lebovu, indvodzemnyama, sijelele, | |
| Dyes: | Bark produce a brown dye used for basketry. |
| Cultural: | Wood reputed to have supernatural powers and so never used as fuel. Branches used as good luck charm. |
| Household: | Toothbrushes made from twig ends. Furniture from wood. Branches used for craftwork. |
| Medicinal: | Roots & bark for headache, toothache & convulsions. Fruits are a purgative.Roots to prevent miscarriage & baby cleansing. |
| Food: | Edible fruits can be used for beer. Fruits are also a purgative. |
| linearis (Magic Guarri) | |
| Food: | Edible sweet fruit. |
| natalensis (Hairy Guarri) inchitsamuzi, indvodzemnyama, nkunzemnyama, umchitamuzi, | |
| Dyes: | Bark produce a brown dye used for basketry. |
| Medicinal: | Powdered roots for headache & toothache. Dental care. Also for sexual stimulation. |
| Food: | Some say fruits edible some say poisonous. |
| subsp. acutifolia | |
| subsp. angustifolia | |
| subsp. natalensis | |
| polyandra (Hairy Guarri) | |
| schimperi (Bush Guarri) inchitsamuti, indvodzemnyama, | |
| Timber: | Hard heavy wood. Previously used for wagon wheels. |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal. Analgesic |
| Food: | Edible fruit. |
| undulata (Common Guarri) santinyana, | |
| Timber: | Wood useful for fence posts and for joinery |
| Cultural: | Forbidden at home |
| Fodder: | Leaves as fodder for stock. |
| Medicinal: | Roots are strong purgative, used for toothache. Bark for headaches. |
| Food: | Edible fruit |
| Diospyros | |
| dichrophylla (Poison Peach) umchafutane lomnyama, | |
| Firewood: | Firewood |
| Household: | Root is used as a substitute for toothpaste. Fighting sticks. |
| Food: | Edible fruit according to some - poisonous according to others. |
| galpinii (Dwarf Hairy Jackalberry) indodemnyama, siphiphabantfwana, umchafutane, | |
| Fodder: | Forage & fodder |
| Household: | Stems used to clean teeth. Infant anus wiper. Leaves used for sweeping brooms. |
| Medicinal: | To determine male sex in pregnancy. Roots medicinal. |
| Food: | Edible fruit |
| lycioides (Quilted Bluebush) lomhlophe, umcafudane, umchafutane, umchafutane lomhlophe, | |
| Honey: | Excellent bee plant. |
| Dyes: | Dye & tanning. |
| Fodder: | Fodder for stock and game. |
| Household: | Roots & twigs as chewing sticks. Dental care. Fighting sticks. Leaves used for sweeping brooms. |
| Food: | Edible fruit but unpalatable. Seeds roasted as a coffee. |
| subsp. guerkei | |
| subsp. lycioides | |
| subsp. nitens | |
| subsp. sericea | |
| mespiliformis (Jackal Berry) umtfoma, umtoma, | |
| Timber: | Strong, hard, durable timber |
| Cultural: | Fruit eaten away from home leads to possession by spirits. |
| Household: | Wood for furniture and flooring. |
| Medicinal: | Leaves & bark for ringworm, leprosy, fevers, dysentery. Antiseptic? |
| Food: | Edible fruit. Also used for beer or preserves. |
| nummularia (Small-leaved Jackal Berry) masindza, mnamamhlophe, santinyana, | |
| Cultural: | Forbidden at home. Roots make a potion to ensure marital fidelity. |
| whyteana (Bladder Nut) santinyana, silevusembuti, | |
| Cultural: | Forbidden at home. |
| Household: | Wood is used for tool handles & yokes |
| Medicinal: | Bark for impotence & infertility. Leafs for rashes.Roots for wounds. |
| Food: | Seeds as coffee substitute. Insipid but edible fruit. |
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by botanical name - families:
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