Eswatini's Flora - siSwati Names and Uses - STRYCHNACEAE
Compiled by Chris Long, © December 2005
| Strychnos | |
| decussata (Cape Teak) umpathawenk, | |
| Cultural: | With crocodile fat will protect from lightning. Ceremonial sticks. |
| Household: | Timber suitable for musical instruments. |
| Medicinal: | Infusion of root bark for stomach disorders and used as snuff. |
| Food: | Edible fruit but also reputed to be poisonous when green. |
| henningsii (Red Bitterberry) manono, mhlophe, silume lesi, umnonono, | |
| Timber: | Makes useful fence posts & used as poles for hut building. |
| Cultural: | Bark & leaves are charm against snakebite. Roots used in sangoma initiations. Stem and branches used in incwala ceremonies. |
| Medicinal: | Bark for nausea & stomach as a purgative. Also for syphilis. Roots for rheumatic pains. Poisonous. |
| madagascariensis (Black Monkey Orange) emkhwakhwa, lihlala, umgulugulu, umhlala, umkhwakhwa, umkhwakhwa, | |
| Cultural: | Root used in sangoma initiations. |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Medicinal: | Infusion of root bark for stomach disorders, |
| Food: | Edible fruit pulp & leaves. Sometimes dried and stored for years. |
| mitis (Yellow Bitterberry) munono, umphatsankhosi, | |
| Household: | Wood difficult to work but used for tool handles & fighting sticks. |
| pungens (Yellow Bitterberry) | |
| Food: | Orange-like fruit with hard skin. |
| spinosa (Green Monkey Orange) emahlala, mahlala, mhlola, umhlala, umkhwakhwa, umsala, | |
| Firewood: | Fuelwood |
| Household: | Sounding boxes for musical instruments from fruit shells. |
| Medicinal: | Roots & fruits are antidote for snakebite. Grated root with oil for jigger fleas in feet. Root an emetic for fevers & inflamed eyes. |
| Food: | Edible fruit. Delicious fresh pulp. |
| usambarensis (Blue Bitterberry) umphatsankhosi lomnyama, | |
| Medicinal: | Medicinal for stomach complaints. Roots for treating snake bites. |
SiSwati names and uses, arranged by botanical name - families:
Search for flora information: Enter any name or part of a name in the appropriate box:
Search for photos/illustrations: Enter any name or part of a name in the appropriate box:
Website hosting sponsored by the Natural History Society of Eswatini
