♦263. Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorb.) Physic or Pulsa nut. 



Msatsimanga, msapatonje (N), satsimanga (C), masawasa. ( ? ) 



An erect stiffly branched small tree up to 20 ft. tall, native of tropical North 

 America, leaves alternate, glabrous or pubescent only on the nerves beneath, ovate- 

 rounded shallowly 3-5 or 7 lobed or entire widely cordate at the base flowers yellowish- 

 green; fruit ellipsoid about 1 ins. long, black when ripe. Common in villages in the 

 Dedza and Ncheu Districts. 



Oil from the seeds used for anointing purposes (Tt) and for lamps by children 

 (Dedza District), plants, seeds and oil have a number of medicinal uses (Tt); the 

 seeds are very poisonous; planted by some Africans to mark sites of graves (Tt), 

 used for fences (Tt and Dedza District). 



Ref. 7, 26. 



♦264. J. gossypifolia L. 



A shrub up to 6 ft. high, native of tropical America, with thick branches and 

 3-5 lobed green leaves tinged with purple, leaf margins and stalks with stalked 

 glands. 



Cultivated as a hedge plant and for medicinal purposes. (Zomba and the 

 Lower Shire.) 



265. Juniperus procera Hochst. ex A. Rich. (Cupress.) Pencil Cedar, E. African 



Juniper. 

 Cangalumwe (To). 



A large, evergreen tree up to 150 ft. tall with straight trunk sometimes up to 35 

 ft. in girth. Found only in a very small patch on the Nyika Plateau in the Mzimba 

 District, and is a relic of a rather more extensive area destroyed by fire. It has been 

 planted successfully on Zomba Plateau and in Limbe but the rate of growth is slow. 



The reddish-brown wood is soft and fragrant with a fine even grain except in 

 very old trees. It works and polishes well but is rather brittle, is very durable, 

 resists damp and insect attacks and is used for building work, furniture, cabinet 

 making, shingles, posts and casings for lead pencils. 



Ref. 14; 22; 26; 27. 



266. Jussiaea abyssinica (A. Rich.) Dandy & Brenan (Onagrac). (Syn. Ludwigia 

 prostrata sensu Oliv.). 



A herb or weak shrub, straggling or erect up to 10 ft. high often with red stems, 

 glabrous except for minute hairs on margins and midribs of leaves, leaves alternate, 

 lanceolate to elliptic -lanceolate, variable in size, flowers appearing as though in 

 axillary clusters, sepals and petals four, the latter small, yellow, fruit capsules linear 

 oblong up to 3/4 ins. long containing numerous minute seeds. 



The leaves are edible (Mzimba District). 



267. Justicia sp. (Acanth.). 



Kalokola, nasungwi (C), namolobwe, nakalasi (N), kamusani (Nk). 



A herbaceous plant 2-3 ft. high, erect ; flowers with lower lip a quarter of an inch 

 broad, white with purple heart-shaped centre, white veins bounding and crossing it. 

 There is a larger leafed species which is not eaten. Common in the hills and foothills 

 all over the country. 



The leaves, young shoots and flowers are cooked as a side-dish, usually without 

 the use of native potashes. The cooked product is bitter and is not liked by men. 

 Women, however, often eat it especially with porridge made partly from bran, gaga. 



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