point. They are fairly commonly grown in the Ncheu District and in smaller amounts 

 elsewhere, e.g., Mlanje and Chinteche. 



The tubers are edible, and are usually dug in March or April, they are first 

 washed and then boiled in their skins. They are well liked by Africans and are 

 said to make a good substitute for potatoes for European use. 



Ref. 23. 



*124. Colocasia antiquorum Schott. (Arac.) Taro, Elephant ear, Coco yam. 

 Ntembe (N), madumbe (C), koko (Y), lombo (Y, T), masimbi (To, tuber), liwindu 

 (Su, leaf), makondo (Su, tuber). 



Native of India and probably other parts of south-east Asia. 



An aroid with a tuberous root, leaves large, arrow-shaped. Widespread in 

 damp places. The leaves of two varieties are commonly eaten in Mlanje. They 

 are also in frequent use in the Ncheu and Karonga Districts. They are known and 

 used occasionally in the Kota Kota, Mzimba, Nkata Bay and Dedza Districts. 



The leaves are cooked with the help of potashes, the product has little flavour 

 unless tomatoes and groundnuts are added. If the leaves are old they are pounded 

 before cooking. The tubers are boiled and eaten as an extra food. The leaves 

 contain crystals in varying amounts which cause considerable irritation in the mouth 

 if eat^en raw and hence require careful cooking. The distastefulness of the leaves 

 protects them from raiding bushbuck and other animals. In some types both leaves 

 and tubers are eaten while in others the leaves only are used. 



Ref. 7; 15; 23. 



125. Colophospermum mopane Kirk ex J. Leonard (Caesalp.) Mopane. 

 Tsanya, sanya (G), ntsono, mopani (Tu). 



A more or less branched tree up to 50 ft. tall, bark rough, grey, longitudinally 

 furrowed, leaflets in one pair, butterfly shaped, flowers very small opening in spring 

 with the leaves, fruit a small, flattish, kidney-shaped one-seeded pod. In open to 

 closed woodland on grey clay soils overlying nodular concretions of limestone which 

 are much waterlogged during the rains and become intensely arid in the dry season ; 

 common only in the middle Shire Valley and south-west of the Vwaza Marsh and 

 occurring in the Mlali area of the Karonga District. 



The timber is hard and full of resin and the grain has typically interlocked 

 fibres. The texture is moderately coarse but even. The straw-coloured sap wood is 

 sharply defined from the dark-brown heart wood. It is said to be very durable 

 and resistant to termites, it has been used with great success locally for piles in bridge 

 building. In South Africa it is used for props, etc., in mining, fencing poles, dissel- 

 booms and felloes in wagon construction. A very good fuel tree, making excellent 

 charcoal but has much ash which contains 50-60 per cent. lime. It has been observed 

 that the Mpala antelope in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia is almost entirely 

 confined to Mopane woodland. A good soil indicator because where found the 

 soil is quite unsuitable for crops. 



Ref. 9; 14; 22; 27; 28. 



126. Combretum imberbe Wawra (Combret.). 

 Mnangali, msimbiti (N), mkolongonja (Y). 



A large handsome deciduous tree up to 100 ft. with round regular cro^^Ti, grey 

 corrugated bark and silvery foliage, flowers in racemous panicles, yellow and sweet 

 scented, fruit small, 4-winged turning red when ripe. Locally common on alluvial 

 and black cotton soils in parts of the Rift Valley. 



38 



