ware pot is inverted into the narrow neck and well plastered in. Mud and dung 

 plastered groundnut containers prevent rats from entering and eating the nuts. 



Ref. 23. 



47. Argemone mexicana L. (Papaver.). 



Mkumajalaga (Y). 



A weed from America now naturalized, a prickly glaucous erect annual herb 

 with yellow juice, leaves more or less embracing the stem, pinnately lobed with 

 white midrib, flowers bright yellow, capsules smooth or bristly 3-4 cm. long. Found 

 on the Fort Johnston District Lake-shore. The seeds are narcotic and are used 

 to make native beer more intoxicating (Tt). 



The leaves are cooked with potashes to soften them, pounded groundnuts are 

 added and the product is well liked. Sometimes it is a little bitter particularly 

 if gro^vn in dry places. 



Ref. 7; 17. 



48. Arthrosolen sp. (Thymel.). 

 Kazinda (C). 



A perennial herb about 1 ft. high, stem densely clothed with narrow leaves J in. 

 long, flowers bright yellow in a head. Found in grassland at 4,000-5,000 ft. 



The leaves are cooked with potashes and form a slimy product, thelele which is 

 well liked and is much eaten in some areas (Kasungu), it is also used in the Misuku 

 Hills of the Karonga District. 



49. Arundinaria alpina K. Schum. (Gram.) Mountain Bamboo. 



Nsungwi (N), mlasi (Y), musyomhe (He), lulasi (Nk) (all general names). 



A bamboo growing gregariously with stems up to 40 ft. tall. Found between 

 5,000 and 8,000 ft. altitude, used for hut building and general wicker work. 



Ref. 14; 17. 



50. Asparagus sp. (Liliac). 

 Katsitsimzukwa (N). 



A herb growing commonly in the undergrowth of forests. 

 Roots used in native medicine. 



51. Aspilia kotschyi Benth. «fc Hook. f. (Compos.), 



An erect branched scabrid annual up to 4 ft. tall, leaves opposite, flowers dark 

 purplish, solitary or few together in short stalked heads. 

 Used as a medicine for colds (Kasungu). 



52. Astragalus abyssinicus Steud. (Papil.). 

 Nacilare (N, C). 



A herb with erect stem growing 3-4 ft. high, sparingly branched, leaves compound, 

 2-8 ins. long with 10-15 pairs of leaflets, flowers bright yellow in large dense 

 racemes, pods small somewhat papery. 



The leaves are eaten cooked as a side-dish sometimes mixed with mnadzi {Solanum 

 nigrum) and are known to be eaten occasionally in the Kota Kota, Dedza and Ncheu 

 hill areas. 

 Ref. 1; 5. 



*53. Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl. (Gram.) Feathery or Golden Bamboo. 

 Nsungwi (N), mlasi (Y), musyomhe (He), lulasi (Nk), (All general names). 



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