The leaves of all kinds seem to be eaten under a variety of names. In many 

 places they are called by the same name as ordinary cassava leaves, e.g., cigwada 

 or ntapasya, while at Port Herald they are called gonabwino meaning sleep well. 

 The leaves are cooked in a similar way to those of ordinary cassava. They are 

 picked when very young whenever possible. 



301. Margaretta rosea Oliv. (Syn. M. whytei K. Schum.) (Asclep.) 

 Ncence (Tu). 



A perennial lactiferous herb with roots like big sweet potatoes, up to 15 ins. 

 tall with solitary or few stems, leaves opposite, linear lanceolate up to 4 or more ins. 

 long, thinly pubescent; flowers small golden-yellow, rose, red, or pinkish-mauve in 

 umbels terminating the stems; fruits follicles, often solitary 2-3 ins. long, lanceolate, 

 acuminate into a beak, thinly pubescent. The roots are eaten in famine time from 

 December to February. They are soaked, dried and pounded to flour, from which 

 porridge is made. They are also eaten boiled and are not bitter. 



302. Markhamia acuminata (Klotz.) K. Schum. (Bignon.). 



Katsongole, kamsongole (N). 



Shrub or small tree up to 30 ft. with drooping branches; bark grey, leaves 

 deciduous, alternate, pinnate; flowers deep purplish-brown, sweet scented; fruit a 

 capsule up to 15 ins. long with winged seeds. 



Timber is durable and is used for rafters, etc. 

 Ref. 9; 14; 26. 



303. M. obtusifolia (Bak.) Sprague. 



Msewa (G), mtvanambeive (N), waramba (Nk). 



A much-branched suckering shrub or small tree up to 25 ft. with opposite, 

 compound, brownish tomentose leaves; racemes of golden-yellow, funnel-shaped 

 flowers and long, yellow- brown, strap-shaped fruits containing winged seeds. Common 

 in drier parts of the low foothills. 



The wood is used for hut building and for making native beds. The roots are 

 used medicinally for children with convulsions (E.A.). 



Ref. 14; 17; 26. 



304. Melochia corchorifolia L. (Stercul.) 



Cipondavu, cipondafuu (Y) cikondavu (To) (meaning where the hippo treads,) 

 cibwatiko (To). 



An erect branching herb or undershrub ; leaves 1-3 ins. long with hairs on the 

 under surface; flowers numerous in dense stalked cymes, petals white, shorter 

 than the sepals; fruit a 5-valved capsule. The plant flowers and fruits in June. 



Known to be eaten at Kota Kota and Chinteche Lake-shore. The thin, rapidly • 

 wilting leaves are cooked as a side-dish. A solution of plant ashes is used, pounded 

 groundnuts may or may not be added. The product is slimj^, hence the leaves 

 are often mixed with another thelele {Ceratotheca sp.). The dish is well liked. 



305i.A Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. (Comp.) Climbing Hempweed. 



Matholisa (C, N), civumulo (C), liundumula (Y). 



Scandent or twining shrub, leaves opposite ovate to deltoid, pubescent below, 

 flowers white or pale pink in corymbose panicles. Found on forest margins and 

 edges of grasslands. 



An infusion of the roots mixed with those of muwawani, {Cassia sp.) is said to be 

 used as an abortifacient. An infusion as above but with roots and bark of mwaye, 

 CiStrychnos spinosa) is drunk to cure colic, ncofu. An infusion of the roots with 



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