alternate, palmately compound, flowers on separate branches in umbels of spikes, 

 fruit an edible drupe. Found widespread on all mountains carrying sub -tropical 

 evergreen forest, some immense specimens up to 5 ft. in diameter are to be seen on 

 Cholo Mountain in forest. 



The fruits are edible. (S.R.) The wood is light, soft and white, used for 

 making troughs and water gutters (Tt) and brakeblocks (S.R.). 



Ref. 9; 14; 26; 27. 



159. Cynanchum schistoglossum Schlecht. (Asclep.). 



Mpuludwa (N), mpululudwa (N, Y), mpululwa (Tu), mpululuzi (N, To). 



A climber with a slender twining stem, leaves elongate, oblong, thin textured 

 with acute apex, flowers in umbel-like cymes very variable, flowers in May. Known 

 to be used in the Kota Kota, Mzimba, Kasungu, Dedza and Ncheu Districts. 



The leaf- blades are picked off" and cooked usually with the help of potashes for a 

 side-dish. The product is well liked and is commonly used in the rains. The 

 leaves are also eaten raw (Mzimba). 



160. Cyperus alternifolius L. subsp. flabelliformis (Rottb.) Kukenth. (Cyper.) 

 Cesa, cetsa (N). 



A perennial leafless sedge with green stems up to 3 ft. tall and umbels of yellow, 

 cinnamon or rust coloured spikes of flowers. Found widespread in the hills in wet 

 and marshy places. 



The plants are collected, dried and burnt and a solution of the ash, cidulo, 

 used for the cooking of leaves and other vegetables. Another sedge, kaujii (C. 

 Kota Kota 1 ake-shore), mlulu (C), which is burnt for potashes, cidulo, is found on the 

 Lake-shore. String is made from the leaves to sew mpasa, mats made from bango 

 reeds, Phragmites mauritianus. 



Ref. 17. 



*161. Cyphomandra betacea Sendtn. (Solan.) Tree tomato. 



A small tree or shrub, native of Peru, growing to about 10 ft. tall. It grows 

 readily from seeds and seems to do best at 3,000 ft. altitude but will grow up to 5,000 

 ft. where the fruits are slow to ripen. 



The fruits may be eaten raw or cooked and make good jam. The rind has a 

 distinctive and disagreeable flavour. 



Ref. 17; 22; 23; 27. 



162. Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. (Papil.) African Ebony. 



Mpingo (G). 



A much -branched thorny tree up to 25 ft. tall with alternate pinnate leaves, 

 many small, white, sweet-scented flowers in terminal and axillary panicles, pods 

 flat 1-2 ins. long. Found in open woodland and bush land at the lower elevations, 

 the best stands being on the south-western side of Lake Chilwa in the Mlanje District. 



The sapwood is very narrow, the heartwood is dark purple -black, very hard, 

 dense, flne-gratned, taking a beautiful polish, durable and usually resistant to insect 

 attack. It is used for carving and is one of the best turnery woods in the world. 

 Unfortunately, the tree grows only to a small size and heart rot often develops in the 

 older trees. Used for walking sticks and carved ornaments (Tt). 



Ref. 17; 22; 27. 



46 



