The leaves are occasionally cooked as side-dish (Kota Kota Hills). An infusion 

 is made of the leaves together with those of mphosa, {Annoiia sp.) and drunk by 

 pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. At the same time a rope is made of the 

 roots and worn round the waist. 



Ref. 1; 5; 6. 



183. D. trinervatus Bak. 



Mkhwere (N), cankhivere, cidyankhwere (C). 



A herb with a large spherical swollen root found widespread. Roots used as a 

 soap substitute for waging clothes; very commonly used as an aphrodisiac, pounded 

 with flour and mixed with the side-dish. Roots also used as cure for nyangu, a 

 symptom of which is dropping off of the eyelashes and poor sight. 



184. Dolichos sp. 



Citimbwisi (C), ciluwe ca citimbwisi, name for flowers. 



A shrubby herb. 



The flowers and leaves are cooked as a side-dish, groundnuts are added and the 

 product is much liked (Kasungu). 



185. Dolichos sp. 



Gulinga (Tu). 

 A creeper. 

 The roots are rubbed on the limbs to cure them of aches and pains. 



186. Dombeya platypoda K. Schum. (Stercul.). 

 Mnyangale (N), namaluli (Y). 



A shrub growing to about 5 ft. with bright green, large, hairy leaves and clusters 

 of flowers of an intense pink when they open, rapidly fading to a rather dingy brown. 

 It springs up in maize gardens from February onwards and flowers in April and May 

 (Kota Kota Hills), at elevations of about 4,000 ft. and over in open grassland. 



The bark makes a very good binding material for building purposes, fences, 

 etc. The pith is cooked, with the addition of potashes, to form a side-dish, pounded 

 groundnuts are added (Dedza and Ncheu Hills). 



Ref. 3: 26. 



187. D. rotundifolia Harv. (Stercul.). Wild Pear tree. 

 Naduwa (N), nciu (C), ciwalikwa (Y). 



A much-branched, deciduous, pubescent tree up to 30 ft. with large, leathery, 

 rounded, cordate leaves which are prominently reticulate below, flow^ers in branched 

 umbels, of an attractive pale pink or white, usually produced when the tree is leafless 

 in September. Widespread in grassland at 5,000 ft. alt. 



The wood is used for tool handles, the bark from the young shoots is used for 

 rope (E.A.). 



Ref. 17; 26. 



188. Dombeya sp. 



Thoni (N). 



A shrub 4-5 ft. high with pink flowers, found in the Dedza Hills. 



The flowers are cooked as a side-dish, they are sometimes mixed with pumpkin 

 leaves (Dedza). 



51 



