338. P. mobola Oliv. (Rosac). 



Muula (N, tree), maula (N, fruits), mpembu (Y, fruits). Names as P. curatellaefolia. 

 An evergreen tree up to 30 ft., leaf base often sub-cordate, leaves similar to 

 those of P. curatellaefolia, flowers in dense panicles, grey to rusty tomentose. Found 

 scattered in Brachystegia forest; also forms clumps and in Mlanje District there are 

 considerable areas of closed forest or scrub. Very common in Misuku Hills, natural 

 regeneration is produced from root suckers. 



Fruits, edible, very good like small russet apples. The seeds of this species or 

 C. curatellaefolia make an excellent substitute for almonds. Timber, white, hard, 

 with a red heart, can be used for poles, cannot be sawn as full of silica, if sawn green, 

 warps. In this country except where native custom has respected the tree as at 

 Fort Mamiing, the timber is generally of too small size to be valuable. 



Ref. 6; 9; 14; 16; 26. 



339. Parkia filicoidea Welw. ex Oliv. (Mimosac). African locust bean. 



Mkundi (N, Y), mgundi (Y), musyepwa (Nk), skapya (He). 



A tall tree of deciduous forest growing to 75 ft. with spreading branches, bipinnate 

 leaves, scarlet flowers in spherical balls on hanging peduncles which are 12 ins. long; 

 flowers at the end of September and fruits in December onwards ; fruit a pod, 8 ins. 

 long, somewhat fleshy, strap-shaped with thick seeds like runner beans. Found 

 in forests fringing rivers from Lake level to 5,000 ft. Often a solitary " relic " tree 

 on hills as at Nchisi Forest, found throughout the country but never abundantl3\ 



The yellow sticky pulp round the black seeds is eaten, the seeds are also used 

 for famine food. No poisonous substances are present in pulp or seeds. The 

 timber is easily worked and is used for mortars, poles, etc. The tree is planted at 

 the eating and meeting place, bwalo, of aCewa villages for shade. An infusion of 

 the bark is mixed with cesa, {Cyperus alternifoUus) root and drunk to cure a disease of 

 women after child birth, it is also used to cure madness, misala. The whole fruit is 

 a good fodder for stock. 



Ref. 12; 14; 15; 26. 



*340. Passiflora edulis Sims. (Passifl.). Passion fruit, Granadilla. 



Magalengendele (N). 



A climbing shrub, native of Brazil, very easily grown from seed which thrives 

 even on poor soils at elevations from Lake level to 5,000 ft. and possibly higher. 

 The fruits of the kind commonly grown are ovoid with purple skins which wTinkle as 

 the fruit ripens. There are at least two other species in the country. P. ligularis 

 Juss., Sweet Granadilla, with a similar fruit but yellow when ripe and with a longer 

 fruit stalk and P. quandrangularis, L. Granadilla, or Square-stemmed Granadilla with 

 an oblong 5-9 ins. long yellowish -green pulpy fruit. Commonly planted by Europeans 

 all over the country but as yet by few Africans. P. edulis is now naturalized on 

 Zomba Mountain. 



The fruits of all three are edible. P. edulis should be encouraged for native 

 use as it is very hardy, bearing several crops in the year for several years in succession. 

 The juice of the fruits is rich in vitamin C and as it is often of a deep orange colour, 

 it is likely to be a good source of the carotenes. 



341. Pavetta crassipes K. Schum. (Rubiac). 



Manja atali (N, meaning long fingers), lilumi la ng'ombe (N), lilaka Iwa ng'ombe 

 (Y), (both meaning tongue of an ox.), muzu-uyu (Nk). 



Robust shrub or small tree, twigs thick up to 9 ft. tall with long up to 12 ins. 

 sword-shaped leaves, locally common on hillsides clothed with Brachystegia. 



91 



