The product is also very mucilaginous. The leaves are cooked occasionally by the 

 aCewa as a side dish, they are also cooked with potashes and form a slimy product. 

 Both leaves and fruits are occasionally dried (Lilongwe District). The calyx is 

 commonly used by Europeans, it is best stewed with other fruit as the product 

 cooked alone is very acid. It also makes very good jelly. 



Ref. 13; 15. 



245. Hibiscus sp. 



Cimkakala (N, C), cimkakate (C). 



An annual herb known to be used in the Kota Kota and Lilongwe Districts. 



The leaves are cooked with the help of potashes, groundnuts are always added 

 otherwise the mucilaginous product is very sour. The dish is well liked. 



246. Hirtella sp. near H. bangweolensis (R.E. Fr.) Greenway (Rosac). 

 Mphungumutu (N). 



A tree with almond-shaped fruits having a velvety surface. 



The fruits are edible and are ripe in December. Found at the Lake-shore 

 (Kota Kota). 



247. Holarrhena febrifuga Klotzsch. (Apocyn.). 



Mkwale (G), thombozi cipeta, kacamba, mkalancamba (N), ciwimbi (Y). (By confusion 

 with Rauvolfia.). 



A small tree up to 25 ft. with latex; leaves elliptic to oblong 2-6 ins. long, 

 often hairy beneath, showy compact inflorescence at end of axillary shoots, flowers 

 white, sweetly scented, fruits very slender, 10-12 ins. long follicles. Found wide- 

 spread at the middle and lower altitudes chiefly on alluvium. 



The fruit juice is drunk raw as a cough cure. An infusion of the roots is used 

 as stomach medicine and for the cure of various diseases. It is the " quina " of the 

 Portuguese of Mozambique used as a tonic and febrifuge. Equal quantities of the 

 root with those of Ostryoderris stuhlmannii are cooked for a long time, salt added and 

 drunk as a cure for lumbago {Msana N). 



Another tree of the same name, thombozi, with smaller leaves and milky latex 

 which grows in short grass, is also in use as a native medicine. 



Ref. 14; 26; 28. 



248. Hyparrhenia dissoluta (Steud.) C.E. Hubbard ex Hutch. (Gram.). (Syn. H. 

 ruprechtii Fourn.). Yellow thatching grass. 

 Kampiti, cilela. 



Tufted, perennial grass 3-12 ft. high with straw-yellow stems and blue-green 

 foliage. 



A good thatching grass, also used for reed- work. 



249. H. filipendula (Hochst.) Stapf, Fine thatching grass. 

 Kanyece, nyumbu (C), kanyumbu (Tu). 



A perennial 3-5 ft., rarely 7 ft. high. Used for thatching. 



250. H. nyassae (Rendle) Stapf, Bush thatching grass. 

 Kamphi, nyumbu (C), kanyumbu (Tu). 



A tufted perennial 2-3 ft. high. 



67 



