pairs, inflorescences about 1 in. long, dense, produced when tree is leafless, fruit 

 tomentose about 1 in. in diameter. 



A native medicine. 

 Ref. 14, 26. 



169. Dichrostachys glomerata (Forsk.) Chiov. (Mimos.). 



Cipangala (N). 



A much-branched shrub up to 15 ft. tall, spreading from root suckers, with 

 scattered spines, leaves bipinnate, leaflets small, numerous, flowers pink and yellow 

 in small dense spikes, pods yellow, twisted, borne in a cluster on a long stalk. 



Root chewed and used as an antidote to scorpion and snake bite also an aphro- 

 disiac, leaves also used for scorpion bite (E.A.). Fruits sometimes used for fodder 

 (W.A.). Stems and roots make excellent firewood and are used for walking sticks, 

 axe-handles and bows (W.A.). Bark, especially from the roots gives a strong fibre. 

 Produces gum of inferior quality (Tt). 



Ref. 14; 15; 17; 26. 



170. D. nyassana Taub. (Mimos.). 



Namphangale (N), cipisiawago (Y), cipangala (N, see also D. glomerata), kampangala 



(C), mpangala (Nk). 



A small tree up to 20 ft. similar to D. glomerata but leaflets larger, flower stalk 

 up to 1 J ins., a noticeable feature, in the leaf axils. Found in dry parts of plateau 

 area where grass is normally tall, e.g., large areas from the Henga Valley to the 

 Lilongwe. 



Wood used for poles, it is very hard and hence is used for makmg sharpened 

 pegs to drive into the ground when making holes for i)oles, also used for arrows. 

 The root is burnt and the ashes rubbed into an incision to cure toothache. After 

 there has been letting of blood to cure headache, the pounded leaves are placed 

 over the site of the incision. An infusion of the leaves with various roots is drunk 

 to cure khunyu (epilepsy?). 



Ref. 5; 6; 14; 26. 



171. Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscor.) Air potato. Potato yam. 

 Fikengere (Nk). 



A climber with leaves like those of the ordinary yam, bearing dark brown, 

 angular tubers in the axils. The tubers are about 3 ins. long. Found in the Misuku 

 Hills, Karonga District. 



The tubers are eaten either boiled or roasted. There is a wild kind reputed to be 

 poisonous. 



172. Dioscorea spp. Yams. 

 Cilazi, mpama (N), lipeta (Y), ciyao (Tu, To), fitugu (Nk, Su). 



There are very many species of yams differing widely in shape and colour of the 

 tubers. The kind commonly seen in this country is planted to grow over hut fences 

 and produces fairly regular, cylmdrical-shaped, white tubers. 



The tubers are eaten boiled or roasted as an extra food. They are often to be 

 found for sale at markets ready cooked. They are much used as a substitute for 

 European potatoes in other places, e.g., W.A. and W.I. 



173. Dioscorea sp. (Dioscor.). 

 Mpamxi wam'thengo (meaning wild yam). 



A climber up to 20 ft. with alternate pairs of much reduced, fleshy leaves with 

 thickened bases, very long internodes and occasional thorns. 

 The roots are edible. 



48 



