360. Piptadenia buchananii Baker (Mimos.). 

 Mkweranyani (C), msenjere (C). 



A tree up to 100 ft., usually buttressed at base, pimiate leaves; flowers cream 

 pubescent in elongate spikes; pods linear oblong seeds oblong, winged. Found in 

 moister parts of the lower mountain and plateau areas. It forms closed forest on 

 the lower mountains of the Southern Province where the rainfall is high and extends 

 down the streams. 



The timber is light, moderately hard and durable. The grain typically has 

 interlocked fibres; the texture is rather coarse but even. The sapwood is wide, 

 white to grayish-white in colour and is not durable. The heartwood is light to 

 darkish-brown with a golden-brown tinge. It has been used locally in the past for 

 general building purposes. In South Africa it is used in bridge construction and is 

 said to be a handsome wood for furniture. Opinions differ as to usefulness of timber, 

 bole splits very easily in felling and wood soon attacked by borers (Tt). 

 Ref. 14; 26. 



361. Pistia stratiotes L. (Arac), Water lettuce. 

 Kakomhwe (N). 



A floating stemless herb with a tuft of fibrous roots, found on still water, ponds, 

 lagoons, etc., and at the edge of the Lake. Leaves sessile in a rosette, 1-5 ins. 

 long, 1-2 ins. broad with rounded apex, more or less hairy on both sides, pale green 

 in colour. Widespread along the shore of the Lake and mouths of rivers. 



The plants are collected, dried and then burnt for the ash, cidulo, the soluble 

 part of which is used for cookmg purposes. 



*362. Pisum sativum L. var. arvense Gams. (Papil.), Field pea. 



Sawawa, kabaifa (N), ndozi (C, Tu), tuware (Su), amangangaya (Nk). 



A cultivated annual herb, not known in a wild state, possibly Mediterranean in 

 origin. The commonly grown type in this country spreads along the ground to 

 about 2 ft., has small leaves, white flowers and small (200 to 1 oz,), yellow or brownish 

 seeds. Grown in hilly areas all over the country. 



The peas are grown in some parts, e.g., Ncheu towards the end of the rains in 

 February and March while in Dowa and Kota Kota Hills, they are mainly grown 

 as a cold season crop in the stream -bed gardens, madimba, large amoiuits are also 

 grown in the Misuku Hills of Karonga District in the cold season. 



Cooking : — 



(1) The Peas (names as above). 



{a) The peas, fresh or dry are boiled as a side-dish. The flesh and skins are 

 both soft and of good flavour so that the cooked product is very well liked. 



(6) After removal of the skins by soaking, the peas are boiled and mashed to 

 form cipere. 



(2) The Leaves, nzera (C), ndozi (N),Upondalyasawatixi{Y),mpangweyandozi 

 (Tu). 



The young shoots, together with the tendrils, are cooked for a side-dish. They 

 soften quickly and with the addition of groundnuts are very well liked where they 

 are grown as a winter crop. They are of particular value if planted in a succession 

 from April onwards, for they will then give leaves until August, i.e., during the time 

 when other leaves are very scarce. Where, however, they are grown earlier in 

 the season, e.g., Ncheu, they are not so highly valued, presumably because pumpkin 

 and many other leaves are still available. Pea leaves are a very good source of 

 vitamin C even after cooking. 



The pods are not eaten in this country. 



98 



