Kinds of Bananas (General). 

 Kabunthu (N), 

 Kachisi (N), 



Magombo = general term (Y), name for commonly grown coarse variety, 

 Makumhukwa (N, Y), 

 Mlanya (Y, N, C) meaning long, 



Namkawa (C), meaning fallen, because of its very heavy branches, 

 Nasiri (Y), kasizi (Y), 

 Sukali (N), meaning sweet kind. 



Ref. 23; 27. 



317. Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv. (Morac). 



Ciwele (C), makwakwa (N), mwanja (Y), mufwisa (Su). 



A small or large evergreen tree growing to 80 ft., with short bole and rounded 

 crown ; branches and petioles with soft hairs intermixed with longer hairs ; leaves 5-7 

 palmate, leaflets to 20 ins. long, pith with large mucilage cells, ultimately hollow 

 and inhabited by ants ; female flowers golden-yellow ; fruit compound yellow when 

 ripe and about 4 ins. in diameter. Known to grow near Zomba, in the Kota 

 Kota Hills and Matipa Forest in the Misuku Hills, Karonga District. 



The fruits are edible very juicy and refreshing, reminiscent of pineapples; one 

 of the best wild fruits in Nyasaland. Wood, yellowish- white, rather soft, fibrous 

 and difficult to work, used for fencing (W.A.). Roots used for throat-aches (Tt). 



Ref. 9; 15; 26. 



318. Nesaeasp. (Lythrac). 



Kwete (C). 



A herb growing to 8 ins. high found in damp places, flowering in November 

 (Dedza). 



The leaves are very occasionally eaten cooked with potashes, they form a shmy 

 product, thelele (Dedza). 



319. Nidorella microcephala Steetz (Comp.). 



Sungubuwa (Tu). 



A herb growing to 2 ft. found in gardens. Found in the Kasungu District and 

 elsewhere. 



The leaves are eaten during the dry weather until December (N.A. Kaluluma's 

 area, Kasungu District). Potashes are not used in the cooking. 



320. Nymphaea calliantha Conrad (Nymph.). Water lily. 



Cikolwa, cikorwa (C). 



A water plant with leaves and flowers floating and rhizomes and roots embedded 

 in the mud ; flowers, large usually pale lilac colour. In lagoons and other stagnant 

 waters. 



The root stock is edible. The flattened head of the flower stalk is edible and 

 also the seeds (Kota Kota). 



321. Olax dissitiflora Oliv. (Olac). 



Msemandodo, nandolo (N), mselecete, ciwambola (Y). 



A much-branched, glabrous, evergreen tree to 20 ft. tall with somewhat pendulous 

 branchlets; leaves, alternate, lanceolate, flowers yellow-green, small on slender 

 stalks, solitary or up to 4 ins., short racemes in the axils of the leaves. 



86 



