The leaves are crushed and the liquid strained and mixed with coconut oil 

 for use as an emetic (E.A.). 



Ref. 14; 17; 26. 



322. Olea chrysophylla Lam. (Oleac). 

 Nakatimba{Mg). 



An evergreen tree up to 50 ft., leaves up to 3 ins. long, very densely scaly beneath, 

 flowers small white in very scaly, many-flowered panicles up to 3 ins. long, common 

 in subtropical rain forest and upland bushland. 



A very fine fuel tree, used for making charcoal, wood extremely durable and 

 strong, dif&cult to work; heart wood cooked and drunk as an infusion like tea by the 

 Masai; twigs and leaves burnt by the waSonjo as a fumigant; roots used for 

 rheumatism, fruits edible and sweet, much liked by the large green pigeon. 



Ref. 14; 26. 



*323. O. europeaL. (Oleac). Olive. 



This tree, native of the Mediterranean region, has been planted at Cholo at 

 3,000 ft. altitude and at Mwera Hill at 5,000 ft. At the former place they were grown 

 for about 15 years but fruited indifferently if at all and have now been cut out, 

 those at Mwera Hill are beginning to fruit and if they bear well a very valuable 

 souice of oil will be made available to the African. 



Ref. 13; 27. 



324. Oncoba spinosa Forsk. (Flacourt.). Snuff"- box tree. 



Mtsece (C), msewe, mtawa (Y), sewe (Nk). 



A glabrous shrub or tree with straight spines, leaves elliptic, up to 2 J ins. long; 

 flowers, showy white, fragrant, 2 ins. diameter, coming out in November (Ncheu); 

 fruits, globular about 2 ins. in diameter, narrowing at the stalk end. Found in 

 forests up to about 3,000 ft. altitude. 



The fruits are boiled and the contents are scooped out with a stick. They 

 then serve as very useful receptacles for snuff and are sold at two a penny. At 

 one time the dried fruits made one of the favourite cock-boxes worn by Ngoni men, 

 a custom that is now dying out. An infusion of the roots mixed with that of kaweleka 

 is drunk by barren women in the hope that they may have children. An infusion 

 of the roots mixed with those of mpungulira, [Antidesma venosum), mlunguchulu, 

 {Fagara nitens) and the leaves of naphangale, {Dichrostachys) is drunk as a cure for 

 khunyu (epilepsy?). The wood is hard, light brown, takes a good polish and is 

 suitable for inlay and cabinet work. 



Ref. 7; 14; 15; 26; 27. 



*325. Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw. (Cactac.) Prickly Pear. 



Kaloga (Dedza). 



A much-branched, leafless, succulent shrub, native of sub-tropical America, 

 up to about 6 ft. tall with oval jointed green spiny stem, spines sometimes up to 2J 

 ins. long, usually shorter, yellow or brown; flowers showy, lemon-yellow, clustered 

 at the apex of the branches; fruits usually pear-shaped or globose, purplish or 

 green and juicy. Some species are spineless. Foimd in many villages particularly 

 Mphunzi (Dedza), Chintembwe (Kota Kota Hills). 



Planted to discourage lions. The fruits when skinned can be eaten, they have 

 seeds embedded in pleasant- tasting, sweet, crisp flesh. The stems of spineless 

 types make good fodder. The soaked stems can be used in soap-making. 

 Ref. 13; 17. 



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