forest, e.g., on the high plateaux of Mlanje Mountain at an elevation of 5,000 to 

 7,000 ft. The forests are scattered mainly in small areas over the massif. It also 

 grows in highly successful plantations on Zomba Mountain. 



The timber comes first in local importance because of its general utility and 

 because it is found naturally in gregarious stands on Mlanje Mountain. The wood 

 is of a pale reddish colour, straight-grained, works easily, is fragrant and is highly 

 resistant to attacks by termites, borer and fungi. Weight 38-45 lb. per cu. ft. 

 Ref. 14; 22. 



480. Wormskioldia longipedunculata Mast. (Turner.), Rhodesian pimpernel. 

 Katambala (N), nakatambala (Y). 



A herbaceous plant, 6-18 ins. high; leaves, simple, narrow up to 4 ins. long; 

 flowers bright orange-scarlet or vermilion, in long stalked inflorescences, flowers 

 open towards 10 a.m. and close before sundown ; pods long and narrow. Widespread, 

 very common by roadsides. 



The leaves are occasionally cooked as a side-dish. They are tough and are 

 first plucked from the stem leaving behind the still tougher base of the leaf. They 

 are then pounded and cooked with the help of potashes, and sometimes pounded 

 groundnuts are added. The product is slimy, thelele. An infusion of the roots is 

 used as a cure for sore eyes. The leaves are rubbed on the strings of bird traps 

 to make the latter difficult to see. 



481. Xymalos monospora (Harv.) Baill. (Monimiac), Lemon wood. 

 Nakaswaga (Y), mblaka, cikakalaka (Ml), mpekeso (Su). 



A fairly large evergreen tree growing to 50 or 60 ft. with red sap, with a diameter 

 1-2 ft., bark grey with well-marked oval scars; leaves opposite or alternate, 

 simple, petiole short, blade oblong-lanceolate ; flowers in axillary, many flowered 

 racemes or panicles ; fruit a rounded bright red berry. Forests of high mountain 

 areas, usually an understorey shrub up to 20 ft. and often a local dominant. 



The fruits are edible (S.R.). The wood is well marked and can be used for 

 furniture, used for bee-hives and hut poles (Tt). 



Ref. 9; 14; 26. 



482. Zanha golungensis Hiern. (Sapind.). 

 Mkwidio (N, Y). 



A large tree up to 80 ft. tall, twigs and leaves glabrous, leaves compound up to 

 12 ins., leaflets in three to six pairs elliptic entire, more or less acuminate at apex 

 many -nerved, inflorescences subcorymbose on the ends of stalks up to 5 ins. long, 

 flowers inconspicuous small, green ; fruit a small, ellipsoid, orange coloured berry 

 with a solitary stone. 



The fruits are edible (Blantyre and Zomba) and the wood is suitable for furniture 

 and building purposes. 

 Ref. 26. 



*483. Zea mays L. (Gram.) Maize, Indian corn. 



Cimanga (N), imanga (Y), nahebwe (Ngu), mapiramanga (Se), cingoma (To), ifirombe 



(Nk). 



A stout annual grass up to 10 ft. tall, not known in a wild state but occurring 

 throughout the tropics and subtropics of America, distinct races being localized in 

 different areas. The sexes are in diff'erent inflorescences on the same plant the 

 males in large terminal panicles, the females the " cobs " in the axils of the lower 

 leaves enveloped by large membranous bracts, leaves sheathing over 3 ft. long and 4 

 ins. wide. Cultivated throughout Nyasaland and taking from four to five months 

 from planting until harvest. 



127 



