Timber is yellow and easily worked, ant and borer proof, used for all kinds 

 of purposes on the farm (S.R.). Timber difficult to saw but a good turnery wood 

 resembling ebony. 



Ref. 14; 22; 26. 



127. C. ternifolium Engl. & Dials (Combret.). 

 Kadale (Y), kasewe (Nk). 



Coppice shrub to small tree 20 ft. high, smooth grey bark, leaves in threes, 

 fruiting November, found gregarious on clay soils. 



Fish poison, parts of the tree are powdered and sprinkled on the surface of river 

 pools in the dry season. 



Ref. 14; 26. 



128. Gommelina sp. (Commel.) Spiderwort. 



Kasungwi, khovani (C), kokwa (He). 



A small herbaceous plant with simple leaves sheathing the stems for about one 

 inch at the base, intense blue flowers growing near water. There are several species 

 differing in size and colour of flowers. Widely distributed all over the country 

 near water. 



Leaves very occasionally eaten when no other side-dish is available. They 

 are cooked with the help of potashes and groundnuts are added. 



Ref. 7; 15. 



129. Commiphora sp. nr. C. pilosa Engl. (Burser.). 



Khobo, khozyo (C), (N.B. khobo and khozyo may be different species). 



A small tree which grows from stakes and hence is often planted for live hedges 

 and cattle kraals. 



The leaves are ediblo, they are pounded and cooked with the help of potashes. 

 Groundnuts are added to the cooked dish which is well liked (Kasungu). Used as 

 a live hedge. (Common in Ncheu District.) An edible caterpillar called nyamakhobo 

 lives on the tree (Ncheu). 



Ref. 14. 



130. Copaifera. See Colophospermum. 



131. Corchorus olitorius L. (Tiliac.) Jute, Jews' mallow. 

 Cilenzi (N), kapilamoto (C), msakasaka (Cimwambe). For other native names see 

 C. trilocularis from which species it is seldom diff'erentiated. 



A much-branched herb up to 7 ft. tall with woody stem and alternate, usually 

 long, lanceolate, acuminate, membraneous leaves, the base of the blade has two 

 long tail-like processes each side of the leaf-stalk, flowers yellow, inconspicuous, 

 solitary or in pairs from the axils of the leaves, fruit a long capsule with prominent 

 beak at apex and numerous black seeds. Of widespread distribution. 



It is seldom distinguished from C. trilocularis and is cooked in a similar way. 

 The stems provide a strong fibre. 



Ref. 1; 7; 15. 



132. C. trilocularis L. 



Denje (N), linyololo (Y, meaning slimy), phinyu (Ngu), ntonono (Se), celewa (Tu), 

 kankhumba (To), bwenka (He, meaning slimy). 

 (Native names as for C. olitorius). 



39 



