334. Oxytenanthera abyssinica Munro (Gram.) Common bamboo. 

 Nsungwi (N), mlazi, liulawe (Y), musyombe (He), lulasi (Nk) (All general names). 



A bamboo with stems, up to 30 ft. or even 50 ft., leaf sheaths overlapping, 

 blades oblong, lanceolate, rounded to a contracted base, very acutely acuminate, 

 spikelets in dense globose, axillary clusters. Flowering is periodic and spasmodic, 

 usually flowering gregariously after which the plants die. It seeds profusely, the 

 stems often being weighted down by the seeds. It reproduces itself from seed without 

 difficulty. It is recorded that there is at Lilongwe a form which flowers and fruits 

 every year but does not die, this has now been widely distributed all over Nyasaland. 

 Forms clumps in the foothill forests under rather moist conditions under varying 

 altitudes. Also found on termite mounds under drier conditions. 



Very widely used for all kinds of building purposes and basket-work. The 

 seeds are an important food, particularly in times of famine, they are said to be 

 very similar to rice in flavour. 

 Ref. 14; 26; 27. 



335. Pachystela brevipes (Baker) Baill. (Sapot.). 



Mpimbi, mpuso (N, Y), mpimbinyolo, citore (N), msuwi (Y), mkumbu (To). 



Much-branched evergreen tree up to 60 ft. tall with a very fluted trunk, large 

 leaves up to 12 ins. long; flowers clustered in the axils of the leaves; fruits yellow, 

 oval about 1 ins. long with a thick skin, fleshy layer and almond-like seed ripening 

 in September. Found near Zomba. 



The fruit has acid-sweet edible pulp. The wood is reddish -yellow, darker in 

 the heart and durable, used for rice mortars and pestles (W.A.). 



Ref. 14; 15; 26. 



336. Parinari curatellaefolia Planch, ex Benth. (Rosac). 

 Mbula, muula (N, Nk, tree), maula (N) or mpembu (Y) fruits. 



A small tree up to 40 ft., leaves alternate, ovate, prominent parallel branch 

 veins, white tomentose beneath ; flowers in panicles, grey to buff, fruits red-brown, 

 IJ ins. long, reddish mealy pulp with a large single seed, found widespread 

 from about 3,000 ft. to 5,000 ft. Very common in Misuku Hills, Karonga District. 



The ripe fruit is edible, the brown pulp has a pleasant sweet taste, more particular- 

 ly if the fruits are picked and then stored for a few days until they are thoroughly 

 ripe. It is one of the best of the wild fruits and it is eaten in very large quantities 

 especially by children. It ripens in October and November (Dedza). The fruits 

 are also pounded with water and the liquid obtained thickened with flour to make a 

 gruel, phala la maula. The wood is hard, durable and heavy, is pale broAvn to yellow- 

 red, somewhat difficult to saw and plane. It is very suitable for building and 

 furniture and is also used for poles, mortars and for charcoal. 



Ref. 6; 7; 14; 15; 26. 



337. P. holstii Engl. Rough-skinned Plum. 

 Nguluwe (Y) tree and fruit, muula (C), mpembu (Y), macende a nguluwe (N fruit), 

 mkanjula (To), mukatana (Su). 



A large evergreen forest tree up to 150 ft. with or without buttresses with pale 

 tomentose branchlets and inflorescences, fruit ellipsoid about \\ ins. long, red brown 

 with rough warty surface, found in forests and on river banks. 



The red, sweet fruits are edible, they are ripe in November, they have a peculiar 

 flavour not unlike that of the Avocado pear. Wood is used locallj^ for planks and 

 building timber, furniture, etc. The ashes of the bark and wood are used in the 

 preparation of hides for tanning. The shell and pulp of the fruit are used in dyeing. 



Ref. 14; 26. 



90 



