The trunk exudes a dark-brown coloured substance which is extremely adhesive 

 and is used for bird lime {ulimbo). The fruits if pounded also give a strong bird lime. 

 The wood is said to make very strong hoe handles and is used for plywood. An 

 infusion of the roots and bark is used for stomach disorders. 

 Ref. 14; 26. 



69. B. longifolia Benth. 

 Form A with pubescent leaves. 

 Mtambo (Y), hohvu momho (C). 

 Form B with glabrous leaves. 



Njombo, mkukwe (Y), momho (N), citowe (Tu), ciombo (He). 



Tree up to 50 ft. with spreading crown, flat or rounded, young leaves salmon- 

 pink to blood-red turning green or bluish-green. 



Characteristic of leached quartz sand on hills from the Lake-shore up to 5,000 ft. 



A bark cloth known as nyanda or ciwondo was made as recently as 1918 and in 

 out of the way places is still being made. The bark was stripped, soaked and beaten 

 out. Blankets were made by sewing several strips together. The bark is used for 

 making ropes. 

 Ref. 5; 14; 26. 



70. B. spiciformis Benth. (Syn. B. randii Bak. f.) 

 Mpapa (Y), cumbe (N). 



A very common tall and straight tree up to 50 ft., crown flat or sometimes 

 rounded, giving the glorious red colour to the bush in the spring. The opening 

 leaves are bright pink, they turn to red-brown and finally glossy green. Leaves 

 alternate with 3-4 pairs of leaflets, flowers produced with the leaves, and are strongly 

 scented hanging in tassels, fruit a flat pod splitting with some force and scattering 

 the seeds when ripe. Common on isolated areas throughout the Lilongwe plain. 



Used for poles which are not borer-proof. The smooth inner bark is used for 

 binding purposes and for thatching twine. Decoction of the bark used as an eyewash 

 for conjunctivitis; wood useful for sleepers, cross-grained hard to plane (Tt). 

 Ref. 9; 14. 



7L B. tamarindoides Welw. ex Benth. Mountain Acacia, Redwood. 



Musani (To, Tu). 



A noble tree up to 40-60 ft. with umbrella -shaped crown, pale grey fairly smooth 

 bark, graceful feathery semideciduous foliage showing marked sleep movements, 

 flowers small greenish-white. Common in Mzimba District on poor soil. 



Timber is valuable, reddish -brown and twisted so must be cross-planed, used 

 for wagon hubs, naves and for building purposes (S.R.). 

 Ref. 9; 14; 26. 



72. B. Moodiana Harms (Caesalp.) "Prince of Wales Feathers. " 



Mombo (N), njombo (Y), ciombo (Tu). 



A fair sized tree with rugged bark, highly ornamental with its fern-like hanging 

 leaves which are a deep pink colour in spring, flowers in compound racemes in axils 

 of lea,ves and produced with them. 



Timber used for poles. Inner bark used for binding and for twine. 

 Ref. 9; 14. 



*73. Brassica chinensis L. (Crucif.) Chinese cabbage. 



Tanaposi, mpiru (N). 



There are a very large number of diff"erent kinds of Chinese cabbage, a native 



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