The roots are eaten raw by children from January onwards into the dry weather. 

 (Kasungu and Lilongwe Districts). 



211. Fadogia odorata K. Sch. (Rubiac). 



Mkumbakumba (N). 



A small shrub, flowering in October, fruits small, green, yellow when ripe 

 (December, Ncheu). Widespread on cleared ground in Ncheu District. 



The fruits are edible. 



212. Fagara nitens Hiern. (Rutac). 



Mlunguculu, mcodzi (C). 



A small thorny tree usually found growing on ant hills. The leaves are known 

 to be eaten in the foothills of the Lilongwe, Ncheu, Fort Johnston and Kota Kota 

 Districts. 



The leaves are occasionally eaten as a side-dish. They are not cooked on the 

 fire in the usual way but boiling water is poured on them and the mixture is stirred 

 at the side of the fire . The timber is probably useful and durable, bows are sometimes 

 made from it. 



Ref. 14; 22. 



213. Faurea saligna Harv. (Prot.) African Beech. 



Cinsense (C), mseje, mtatasika (Y), ciere (To). 



Shrub or tree up to 50 ft. tall, bark rough, grey, foliage evergreen, and flower 

 spikes greenish appearing in October. The foliage turns a beautiful colour in autumn. 

 Found in the lower mountain and plateau areas. 



The timber is most handsome with marked reticulate grain and when cut on 

 the quarter shows a conspicuous figure due to the very broad rays. It is commonly 

 used for furniture in S.A. It is said to be termite resistant. Weight about 45 lb. 

 per cu. ft. It is a good charcoal wood (S.R). 



Ref. 9; 14; 22; 26. 



214. Ficus mallotocarpa Warb. (Morac). 



Mtsuka mbizi (C) (meaning to wash the dishes), mpumbi, mpumbumbi (Y), mtundu) (N). 



A much-branched tree up to 60 ft. tall with whitish trunk and evergreen, alternate, 

 ovate leaves densely pubescent below, fruits sometimes in separate crowded panicles 

 borne on the lower part of the trunk or sometimes on the same tree, solitary in the 

 axils of the leaves, figs globose covered with fine, soft hairs. Found in foothills, 

 often in native gardens. 



The leaves are used for sandpaper and the fruit is edible. 

 Ref. 26. 



215 F. natalensis Hochst. 



Much-branched evergreen tree up to 50 ft. sometimes epipyhjrtic, leaves up to 3 

 ins. long, papery, shiny; fruits about half an inch in diameter, locally common in 

 forest patches. 



Bark used for cloth, to induce lactation and to cure influenza (Tt), fruits eaten 

 by birds. 



Ref. 



58 



