163. D. nitidula Welw. ex Baker. 



Mkulasinga (C), mlungwe (N, Y), lungwe, nkolokolo (Y), mulengwe (To, He), muzembe 

 (Tu), zinyabazo (N). 



A small tree up to 20 ft. with reticulate bark, pinnate leaves and white flowers 

 in axillary panicles very conspicuous when in flower as they are usually produced 

 when the tree is quite leafless. Common in the drier parts of lower mountain and 

 plateau areas above 2,000 ft. altitude. 



Wood used for pounding sticks and poles, very durable and termite resistant. 

 An infusion of the roots is drunk as a cough cure. The leaves are rubbed on to cure 

 abscesses. 

 Ref. 14; 26. 



164. Dalbergiella nyasae Bak. f. (Papil.). 

 Mlembela (N, C), mhindo, lundo, mulundu (Y). 



An erect, lightly branched tree up to 30 ft. tall with rough pale grey or black, 

 longitudinally-fissured bark, leaves pinnate, leaflets in 6-10 sub-opposite pairs, 

 flowers pale pink in dense, narrow panicles or racemes, pods about 3 ins. long, flat, 

 oblong with a dense brown velvety fringe of hairs particularly on the upper suture. 



An infusion of the bark mixed with that of mkhuyu, Ficus sp., and kaumhu ( ? ) is 

 drunk as a cure for dysentery. An infusion of the roots is drunk as a cure for chest 

 complaints. 



Ref. 14. 



165. Datura stramonium L. (Solan.) Thorn apple, Stinking leaf. 

 A coarse annual with large irregular leaves, white or pale purple, tubular flowers 



and egg-shaped fruits covered with thick spines, seeds numerous brown or black. 

 A common weed in the neighbourhood of cattle kraals, poisonous to stock and man. 

 The leaves and seeds contain amongst other alkaloids, hyoscyamin and hyoscine. 

 Extracts are used in medicine for their antispasmodic, anodyne and narcotic proper- 

 ties, whilst the dried leaves are an ingredient of mixtures used in the manufacture 

 of cigarettes and inhalations for the relief of asthma. 



Ref. 8; 18; 27. 



*166. Daucus carota L. (Umbel.) Carrot. 



A native of the temperate regions of the Old World; carrots do well at all 

 elevations and are grown fairly extensively for sale to Europeans. They seed in 

 the hills at 5,000 ft. (Kota Kota). They are seldom eaten by Africans except in 

 some institutions. They make a good side-dish if well cooked and mashed with 

 pounded groundnuts. The leaves are edible but, as far as is known, they are not 

 used in this country. 



*167. Delonix regia (Boj. ex Hook.) Raf. (Caesalp.) Flamboyant, Flame tree. 



A tree, native of Madagascar, growing to 60 ft. in height with characteristic 

 spreading habit. It bears immense panicles of scarlet and orange flowers and when 

 in full bloom is a magnificent sight. The pods are woody up to 18 ins. long, very, 

 hard, with many elongated seeds. Planted near European habitations all over the 

 country. 



An ornaniental tree, pods make good fuel for fires. 



168. Dialopsis africana Radlk. (Sapind.). 



Mtutumuko, ntalawanda (Y), mjuju, mtalala, mlimbauta (N), musakala (Nk), ciwanga- 



lumya (Nk, Su). 



A tree somewhat resembling Lannea, 15-25 ft. high with dark bro^vn bark, 

 tending to peel off in flakes, twigs stout, leaves up to 10 ins. long, leaflets in 3-6 



47 



