467. V. glabra Vatke (Comp.). 



Camasala, namoto (N), mtsitsi (C), cilisya, msangula (Y). 



A glabrous herb up to 4 ft. tall, leaves alternate sessile oblong-lanceolate to 

 oblong, serrate 3-4 ins. long; flowers blue to purple in terminal corymbose panicles. 

 Common and widespread especially in abandoned cultivations. 



Used medicinally for stomach complaints. 



468. V. shirensis Oliv. & Hiern (Comp.). 

 Futsa wa mwamuna, fusa, nguwawe (N). 



A shrubby herb smaller than V .amygdalina with a large root. 



The roots and pounded leaves are boiled in water and the liquid drunk as a 

 cure for indigestion, kubanjila m'mimba. An infusion of the roots with those of 

 cilambe, {Cissampelos mucronata), is used to cure a venereal disease, songeya. The 

 leaves with those of cilambe are rubbed on to cure a swelling. 



469. Vernonia sp. 



Darnbwe. 



A herbaceous plant 2-3 ft. high. Common in old gardens near streams. 

 The leaves are said to be used as a side-dish. 



470. Vigna fischeri Harms (Papil.). 

 Mukho, mikho (N). 



A climbing herb resembling V. phaseoloides in appearance, its pods are long, 

 narrow and densely hairy; flowers purple. Common in the hills. 



The flowers are eaten cooked either alone or with the leaves of Vigna 

 phaseoloides {Mphunzi, Dedza District). The roots are edible; boys dig them up, 

 peel them and chew the fibrous part to extract the sweet juice. They are eaten in 

 February and March. 



471. V. phaseoloides Baker. 



Mtambe thengo, citambe (N), likundewa (Y), mtanthe (Tu), kankhundekhunde (He). 



A herbaceous plant with slender stems, wide climbing and downy; 3 leaflets, 

 finely downy below, laterals very unequal-sided; flowers 2-4 on apex of downy 

 flower stalk, up to 4 ins. long, corolla reddish -purple with sweet scent, pod thin 

 4-4J ins. long, nearly straight, finely downy. Growing throughout the country and 

 especially common in hill areas. 



The leaves are cooked as a side-dish. If tough, potashes are used, the product 

 is well liked if groundnuts are added. Often the leaves are exposed to the sun 

 before cooking to lessen the bitterness. One of the most commonly used wild leaves. 

 The beans are occasionally eaten by children. The root is used as a contraceptive. 

 An infusion is made of it together with that of the root of msekese [Piliostigma 

 thonningii), the liquid is drunk for seven successive nights during which time there 

 must be no intercourse. 



472. V. reticulata Hook. f. (Papil.). 

 Camaweya (Tu). 



A herb with wide climbing stems covered with conspicuous spreading grey or 

 brown hairs, leaves alternate, pinnately trifoliolate, dark green often with a silvery 

 stripe down the centres, end leaflet oblong or lanceolate acute up to 6 ins. long, the 

 two lateral similar, scarcely unequal-sided, all covered with adpressed grey silky 

 hairs; flowers pea-like, pinkish -mauve several clustered together on the end of a long 

 hairy stalk; legume linear straight up to 3 ins. long, densely clothed with glossy dark 

 brown velvety bristles, black when mature. Found in gardens and bushland. 



The leaves are eaten from January to March cooked without potashes. 



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