457. U. nitida Muell. Arg. (Euphorb.). 



Kasokolowe (N, Y, ^o),mselecera, msecela, mtoto (Y), msuku mpinini (Nk), msalinja, 

 msaiiyinja (He). 



An evergreen tree up to 50 ft. high, leaves crowded towards the ends of the 

 branches, lanceolate or oblong lanceolate rounded at apex, up to 4| ins. by 2 J ins., 

 entire, leathery, smooth, shiny above; fruits greenish yellow axillary, 3-celled, 

 globose about \ ins. diameter; flowers from March onwards and fruits in November 

 and December. Widespread in Brachystegia woodland. In the Nkata Bay District 

 foothills on swampy soil which does not become regularly inundated, it grows to 

 over 60 ft. tall in closed forest. 



The fruits are edible. The wood is used for making beds and is a useful structural 

 timber. 

 Ref. 14; 22; 26; 28. 



458. U. sansibarica Pax. 



Kasakolowe (N), mtoto (Y), msokolowe (C). 



A laxly-branched, glabrescent evergreen tree up to 40 ft. high, with large, dark 

 green, leathery, alternate, obovate or obovate oblong leaves ; flowers yellow usually 

 solitary on long stalks in the axils of the leaves, the males and females separate on 

 the same tree ; fruit globose the size of a plum. 



The fruit is edible. 

 Ref. 14; 17; 26. 



459. Urena lobata L. (Malvac.), Bun ochra. 

 Msapatonje (Y), kolokondwe (Su). 



A stiff erect herb up to 10 ft. high, covered with stellate hairs, with very variable 

 leaves which can be linear-oblong to sub-orbicular with 3-4 lobes, coarsely toothed, 

 whitish below; flowers, pink, about 1 ins. long, axillary solitary or clustered 

 fruits, globose of five obtuse 3 -sided indehiscent carpels covered with hooks. Wide- 

 spread as a weed at all elevations. 



A fibre is obtained from the stem, the flowers are eaten as a side-dish (Misuku 

 Hills). 

 Ref. 14; 17; 26. 



460. Urginea altissima Baker (Liliac). 

 Nthunga, meaning spear. 



A bulbous perennial herb, bulb brown, flowers greenish- white, many in a dense 

 cylindrical raceme 1-2 ft. long on a rigid stalk 3 ft. long produced before the leaves, 

 leaves 5-6 lanceolate glabrous 1-2 ft. long. Widespread between 2,500-6,000 ft. 

 altitude. 



Has medicinal uses. 



461. Utricularia thonningii Schumach. (Lentibular.). 



A submerged aquatic herb, floating close to the surface, stems over 1 ft. long; 

 leaves variable, 3-6 partite with appendages at the base of the leaf blade, rays up 

 to H ins. long, threadlike, usually solitary from the lower part of a pinna; floating 

 leaves in a false whorl of 6, linear-oblong to oblong, 1 ins. long; racemes few 

 to many flowered, corolla yellow or white with purple veins, flowers in June. (Kota 

 Kota). Shallow waters near the Lake. 



A useful plant for fishponds. 



462. Uvaria sp. (Annon.). 

 Ukonde (C), luwau, dilakomwe. 



A small tree, growing in sand often near water; leaves, leathery, 3 ins. long; 

 fruits, elongated, 1 J ins. long with hard stone, skin and flesh red when ripe, fruiting 

 from December onwards and known to grow at Kota Kota Lake-shore^ 



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