A small tree with ovate leaves up to 3 J ins. long, sepals yellow found widespread 

 often by streams, flowering in November (Ncheu). 



Fruits edible, very small like kaffir corn, mapira. 



Ref. 14. 



227. Gossypium spp. (Malvac.) Cotton. 



Thonje (N), masapa (Nk), lithonje (Y). 



A number of species are involved but probably the most important are the 

 two New World species G. barbadense L. and G. hirsutum L. The crop is grown for 

 export in the Lower River and Lake-shore areas, it does not do well at much above 

 2,500 ft. although a cotton was observed in villages on the western border at about 

 3,500 ft. altitude. This was almost tree-like and although growing on very poor and 

 sandy soil it had most remarkably vigorous growth and a real abundance of bolls 

 remarkably free from insect pests, its local name was tonjemanza. 



It is not known when cotton was introduced into Nyasaland, and from whence, 

 but there are constant references to cotton in Livingstone's Journals and he remarks 

 on the quite remarkable quantities being grown by Africans and to the industry in 

 weaving the cotton into a coarse cloth. In " The Zambezi and its Tributaries " 

 published in 1865, Livingstone states on page 464 of the 1st Edition that he saw a 

 garden with one side 630 paces and that many gardens were from one to three acres 

 in size. He refers to the cotton as being of very superior quality. This must have 

 been along the Murchison Cataracts. On page 111 he is more informative saying 

 " Three varieties of cotton have been found in the country, namely, two foreign, 

 and one native. The tonje manza, or foreign cotton, the name showing that it has 

 been introduced, is of excellent quality ". Further on, he states, " The tonje cadja, 

 or indigenous cotton is of shorter staple, and feels in the hand like wool " . Livingstone 

 keeps referring also to the amount of cotton weaved into cloth and mentions the 

 that the tonje cadja makes a far stronger cloth than the exotic cotton. 



Ref. 27. 



228. Grumilea ungoniensis K. Schum. & K. Krause (Rubiac). 

 Mcenjedi (Y), cisunkunthu (N), See Crotalaria cephalotes of same native name. 



Shrub or small tree with young branches covered with white hairs. 

 The leaves are cooked with potashes for a side-dish. They form a slimy product, 

 thelele, which is liked by old people. 



Ref. 26. 



229. Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. (Celast.). 

 Mpelu (N), mpabulu (Y), ligoga, mpakula (Y, N). 



An armed or unarmed, much-branched shrub or small tree sometimes up to 25 

 ft., leaves alternate, very variable in shape and size, flowers small, white or pink in 

 axillary, solitary or fasicled cymes, fruit a two-valve, lemon-yellow capsule splitting 

 and exposing small red seeds. Common throughout the country. 



Clements says the wood is yellowish, hard-straight, grained and durable. It 

 tends to split during seasoning but planes and saws well, possibly a useful boxwood. 

 Weight about 45 lb. per cu. ft. Many medicinal uses in W.A. 



Ref. 14; 17; 22; 26. 



230. Gynandropsis gynandra Briq. (Capparid.) Cats' whiskers. 



Luni (N, To), nsila (Y), mutaka (Tu, Nk). 



An annual, growing to 2 ft. or more, leaves with long stalks 5-foliate, flowers 

 white or pale pink with very long protruding stamens hence the EngUsh name, 



63 



