Plants known by Tiv names — part 3 of 10 (Baguji; Ikpokpua to Gbirachi), 389 plants in all. Each entry gives the English and scientific names where they are known, a description, and what the archive records of the plant’s medicinal, food and ritual uses and how it is grown.
Large-fruited terminalia; Savanna terminalia
Terminalia macroptera
- Description
- A savanna tree with distinctive large, winged fruit, one of West Africa's most widely used medicinal trees.
- Medicinal uses
- Roots, bark and leaves are used across West Africa for hepatitis, cough, tuberculosis, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, and malaria; the bark specifically treats diarrhoea and dysentery in Nigeria.
- Cultivation
- A tree of savanna woodland.
Wild currant; Tassel berry
Antidesma venosum
- Description
- A shrub or small tree bearing small, sweet berries similar in flavour to mulberries.
- Medicinal uses
- Root extracts are used for heart complaints; leaf and root infusions treat coughs and upset stomach; leaves are used as a purgative for dysentery and diarrhoea.
- As food
- Ripe berries are eaten fresh, though not easy to digest in quantity.
- Cultivation
- A wild shrub or small tree of savanna and woodland margins.
Upright indigo; Bengal indigo
Indigofera arrecta
- Description
- A shrubby legume and one of Africa's main sources of natural blue indigo dye, historically used to dye skin and cloth across West Africa.
- Cultivation
- Leaves are soaked and fermented to release the dye; this species yields notably more indigo than related indigo plants.
Cabbage tree; Worm bark; Angelin tree
Andira inermis
- Description
- A tree with fragrant purple flowers, its bark historically prized as a powerful de-worming remedy.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark is emetic, purgative and anthelmintic, and has been used against snakebite; seeds are used against intestinal worms. Toxic in anything but small doses — not for informal use.
- Cultivation
- A flowering tree of tropical forest and woodland.
Wild African rice; Wild red rice
Oryza barthii
- Description
- A wild grass and the ancestor of cultivated African rice, growing naturally in savanna water-holes and floodplains.
- As food
- Seeds have been gathered by hand or from canoes in flooded ground for millennia, eaten as a grain especially in lean seasons.
- Cultivation
- Not cultivated in the usual sense — grows wild in seasonally flooded ground and is gathered rather than sown.
Siam weed, Christmas bush, Devil weed, Triffid weed, Bitter bush, Camphor grass.
Chromolaena odorata
- Description
- Chromolaena odorata is a fast-growing perennial shrub widely known in tropical regions for its powerful wound-healing properties and its aggressive invasive behavior.
- Medicinal uses
- The leaves are extensively used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding, heal wounds, treat skin infections, and manage ailments like malaria and stomach disorders.
- As food
- The leaves are occasionally used as an aromatic additive or medicinal tea, but are not commonly consumed as food due to safety concern
- Ritual uses
- In some African and Caribbean traditions, the plant is used for spiritual cleansing, protection, and ritual practices.
- Cultivation
- Although sometimes used for soil improvement or medicinal purposes, the plant is a highly invasive weed that spreads rapidly and disrupts farms and natural ecosystems.
Igbo potato; Okoho plant
Cissus populnea
- Description
- A climbing savanna shrub known in Nigeria as okoho or afato, valued for the mucilage in its stem.
- Medicinal uses
- Used across Nigeria for sore breast, indigestion, venereal disease, intestinal parasites, and swelling.
- As food
- The stem bark's mucilage is used as a soup thickener in Northern Nigeria and specifically by the Idoma of Benue State; the fruit is also eaten in soups.
- Cultivation
- A semi-climbing shrub of savanna woodland.
Natal mahogany; Trichilia; Mafureiro
Trichilia emetica
- Description
- A large shade tree bearing seeds valued for their oil, used across Africa for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark is a popular remedy for stomach and intestinal ailments; also used for abdominal pain, jaundice, chest pain, and to induce labour, reflecting its emetic and purgative properties.
- Cultivation
- A large tree of riverine and savanna woodland, often left standing for shade.
Mobola plum, Mbola plum, Fever tree, Hissing tree
Parinari curatellifolia
- Description
- The most common English name for Parinari curatellifolia is Mobola plum, also known as the Mbola plum, but it has many other regional names, including Mupundu, Muhacha, and Grysappel, reflecting its importance as an edible and medicinal tree across Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Valued for its nutritious fruit and seeds, used in traditional medicine, and provides food for wildlife
- As food
- Ripe fruits eaten, slender branches as chewing stick
- Cultivation
- Seeds
Daniellia; African copaiba
Daniellia ogea
- Description
- A large forest tree closely related to Daniellia oliveri, tapped for its aromatic resin.
- Medicinal uses
- Related Daniellia species are used across West Africa for wounds and respiratory complaints; documentation specific to this species is thinner than for D. oliveri.
- Cultivation
- A tall forest tree of the Guinea forest zone.
Shea tree, Shea butter tree, Sheanut tree, Vitellaria
Vitellaria paradoxa
- Description
- Vitellaria paradoxa is a large, slow-growing, drought-tolerant tree native to the sub-Saharan savanna. It produces edible fruits with fat-rich kernels used to make shea butter and is a keystone species in agroforestry and traditional African landscapes.
- Medicinal uses
- The tree is considered a “tree of life” with multiple therapeutic applications:
Bark: Decoctions used for diarrhea, dysentery, stomach aches, jaundice, eyewash, leprosy treatment, and as a bath to assist childbirth.
Leaves: Treat headaches, eye infections, and are used in vapor baths.
Roots: Used for digestive issues in humans and as veterinary medicine.
Shea Butter (Fat): Applied topically for rheumatism, joint and muscle pain, dermatitis, and wound or burn healing.
Latex: Used to treat sores.
- As food
- Shea Butter / Cooking Oil: Extracted from nuts (kernels) and used as a dietary fat, cooking oil, and cocoa butter substitute in confectionery.
Fruit Pulp: Eaten raw; sweet and nutritious.
Flowers: Occasionally fried into fritters.
Caterpillars: The leaves host the caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, which is eaten dried or fried.
- Ritual uses
- Sacred Tree: Considered sacred in many communities; often protected from felling.
Ceremonial Uses: Shea butter is used in marriages, newborn blessings, and other rites symbolizing protection and prosperity.
Traditional Medicine & Spirituality: Employed by healers in rituals related to childbirth, lactation, and spiritual illnesses.
- Cultivation
- Seed Propagation: Traditional method; juvenile period is long (10–25 years).
Vegetative Propagation (Grafting): Side cleft grafting in May ensures faster fruiting (2–3 years) with up to 86% success.
Cuttings: Rejuvenated shoot cuttings treated with rooting hormone (IBA) can root with ~75% success.
Tissue Culture: In vitro micro-propagation is being developed for large-scale planting.
White Fanpetals, Spiny Sida, or White-flowered Sida.
Sida alba L, Sida spinosa L
- Description
- Sida alba L. (sometimes classified under Sida spinosa or Sida rhombifolia depending on regional taxonomy, with which it shares synonyms) is an annual or perennial herb, commonly referred to as White Fanpetals, Spiny Sida, or White-flowered Sida. It is widely recognized for its extensive use in traditional medicine across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves, roots, and stems are used to treat respiratory issues, infections, fevers, malaria, skin diseases, digestive problems, and reproductive health concerns, with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
- As food
- Leaves are sometimes eaten as a condiment or vegetable and brewed as a tea substitute with mild stimulant properties.
- Ritual uses
- Sida alba is used in spiritual cleansing, while its stems are made into brooms believed to disinfect spaces symbolically, though caution is advised due to ephedrine content.
- Cultivation
- The plant is primarily propagated by seeds, though stem cuttings can also be used, thriving in full sun to partial shade on well-drained soil.
Sesame; Simsim; Beniseed; Benne; Gingili
Sesamum indicum
- Description
- An erect annual herb grown for its oil-rich seeds, one of the oldest cultivated oilseed crops in the world.
- Medicinal uses
- Seed oil is used topically for skin and hair care, and is valued nutritionally for its unsaturated fat content.
- As food
- Seeds are roasted and eaten whole, pressed for cooking oil, or ground into paste; used in snacks and to enrich soups.
- Cultivation
- A hardy, drought-tolerant crop grown on well-drained soils across the savanna belt.
Short-leaved bluestem; Little false bluestem
Schizachyrium brevifolium
- Description
- A small tufted grass of tropical and subtropical grassland, common in seasonally dry areas.
- As food
- Grazed by livestock and recorded in regional feed-composition databases as a forage grass.
- Cultivation
- A wild annual grass of open and lightly disturbed ground.
Savanna nauclea; African peach; Wild peach
Sarcocephalus latifolius
- Description
- A shrub or small tree bearing an edible, peach-like fruit, and one of the most widely used medicinal plants in West Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Used across Nigeria and West Africa for malaria, fever, and gastrointestinal disorders; bark treats jaundice, roots address hernia and fever, and bark and roots contain a natural pain-relieving compound similar to tramadol.
- As food
- The ripe fruit is eaten, and is also used as a cough remedy.
- Cultivation
- A shrub or small tree of savanna and riverine woodland.
Charcoal Tree, Indian Nettle, or Pigeon Wood
Trema orientalis
- Description
- Trema orientalis is a fast-growing, short-lived pioneer tree widely found in tropical regions, thriving on disturbed and poor soils. The tree has rough, serrated leaves, small inconspicuous flowers, tiny fleshy drupes, smooth grey bark, and grows very rapidly to medium height.
- Medicinal uses
- Various parts of Trema orientalis are traditionally used to treat respiratory, digestive, inflammatory, skin, and infectious conditions, with proven antimicrobial and antioxidant potential.
- As food
- Its young leaves are eaten as a vegetable, fruits are edible though mainly wildlife-consumed, and the protein-rich foliage serves as valuable livestock fodder.
- Ritual uses
- The wood is culturally important for charcoal, fire-starting, fiber production, fencing, and ritual medicinal practices across several African communities.
- Cultivation
- As a nitrogen-fixing pioneer species, Trema orientalis is vital for land restoration and agroforestry, though it can become invasive and cause mild skin irritation in some people.
Indian charcoal tree; East Indian trema; Gunpowder tree
Trema crientalis
- Description
- A fast-growing pioneer tree with rough, sandpapery leaves, common on cleared and disturbed land across the Old World tropics.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves and bark are used across Africa and Asia for coughs, sore throat, asthma, bronchitis, gonorrhoea, fever, and as an antidote to poisoning.
- Cultivation
- A hardy, fast-growing pioneer tree that readily colonizes cleared and disturbed ground; its wood makes a fine, light charcoal historically used in gunpowder manufacture.
African Copaiba Balsam Tree, West African Copal Tree, Balsam Tree
Daniella oliveri
- Description
- Daniellia oliveri is a deciduous, fast-growing timber tree native to the savannah regions of West and Central Africa. It is hardy, fire-resistant, and often serves as a pioneer species in degraded or forested landscapes.
- Medicinal uses
- The tree is valued in traditional medicine for its bark, resin, and leaves, which contain tannins, saponins, and flavonoids:
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Leaf decoctions treat diarrhea, dysentery, and stomach troubles.
Skin & Wound Care: Bark and resin applied to sores, wounds, and circumcision sites.
Fever & Pain Relief: Root and bark decoctions treat malaria, yellow fever, headaches, and body aches.
Diabetes Management: Leaves and roots used to manage diabetes mellitus, often combined with other medicinal plants.
Respiratory Health: Leaf infusions used for coughs, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.
Other Uses: Aphrodisiac, rheumatism treatment, and management of venereal diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis).
- As food
- Leaves: Young tender leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten as a vegetable, especially during scarcity.
Gum / Resin: Chewed as a mild snack.
Bark: Used in brewing traditional beer.
- Ritual uses
- Incense & Fumigation: Resin/gum burned for fragrance in religious ceremonies, house fumigation, and as torches.
Insect Repellent: Smoke used to repel insects.
- Cultivation
- Propagation: Primarily by seeds.
Habitat / Soil: Pioneer species thriving in sandy-clayey, humid soils; commonly found in savannah and forest edges.
Hardiness: Fire-resistant and fast-growing.
African pear; Bush butter tree; Safou
Dacryodes edulis
- Description
- A tropical forest tree grown for its dark purple, oil-rich fruit, a popular food across Central and West Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark, resin, and leaves are used traditionally for wounds, dysentery, and skin ailments; the resin is burned as incense and insect repellent.
- As food
- The fruit is softened in warm water or roasted and eaten with maize; it is rich in oil and valued as a nutritious snack and side dish.
- Cultivation
- Propagated from seed or cuttings and commonly planted around homesteads and in agroforestry systems.
Smith's dracaena; Dragon tree
Dracaena smithii
- Description
- A woody shrub or small tree with long strap-like leaves in a rosette, popularly known as the corn plant or cornstalk dracaena.
- Cultivation
- Easily propagated from stem cuttings; widely grown as an ornamental hedge and houseplant, and also occurs wild in African woodland and forest margins.
Rice; Common rice; Asian rice
Oryza sativa
- Description
- An annual cereal grass grown in flooded or rain-fed paddies, the domesticated source of the world's rice.
- As food
- The staple grain is boiled or steamed and eaten across the world; rice water and bran are also used in various local preparations.
- Cultivation
- Grown as a wetland or upland crop, typically transplanted as seedlings into flooded paddies and harvested after 3-6 months depending on variety.
Snake bean tree; Savanna swartzia
Swartzia madagascariensis
- Description
- A small savanna tree with hard, sickle-shaped seed pods, also known as the snake bean tree (Swartzia madagascariensis, now reclassified as Bobgunnia madagascariensis).
- Medicinal uses
- Root decoctions are used traditionally for leprosy and syphilis. The ripe pods are ground and used as a fish poison, arrow poison, and insecticide — toxic, not for informal internal use.
- Cultivation
- A wild savanna tree of tropical Africa.
Bush roselle, Thorny roselle, Water hemp, and African hemp.
Hibiscus asper
- Description
- Hibiscus asper is a bristly annual or short-lived perennial African shrub used both as a medicinal plant and as a leafy vegetable, and is distinct from Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle). The plant is an erect, hairy herb with thorny stems, serrated or lobed leaves, large pale flowers with dark centers, and fuzzy seed capsules.
- Medicinal uses
- It is traditionally used to treat skin diseases, malaria, jaundice, anemia, menstrual disorders, nervous system conditions, and internal parasites, with reported sedative and anti-inflammatory effects.
- As food
- Young leaves, shoots, and boiled calyces are eaten as vegetables, providing minerals and bioactive compounds.
- Ritual uses
- Unlike some related species, Hibiscus asper has limited documented ritual significance and is mainly valued for medicinal and nutritional purposes.
- Cultivation
- The species grows easily from seed in sunny, well-drained tropical habitats such as savannas and riverbanks.
Neem or Indian lilac
Azadirachta indica
- Description
- Neem is a fast-growing, medium-to-large evergreen tree (15–30 m) with compound leaves, thick grey bark, fragrant white or pale yellow flowers, olive-like yellow-green fruit, and sticky sap in old trees.
- Medicinal uses
- Used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for oral care, skin conditions, parasitic infections, digestive health, and fever; contains over 140 bioactive compounds. Raw oil can be toxic to children and prolonged use may harm kidneys/liver.
- As food
- Young leaves and flowers are eaten in India and Southeast Asia, in dishes like nim begun bhaja or veppam pū cāṟu, and used in salads or to temper bitterness.
- Ritual uses
- Neem is used in Hindu festivals, as home protection from evil or infection, and has spiritual significance associated with goddess Shitala.
- Cultivation
- Hardy and drought-resistant, neem grows in tropical/sub-tropical regions, tolerates poor soils, prefers full sun, propagates from seeds or cuttings, grows very fast, but can be invasive outside native areas.
Neem; Neem tree; Indian lilac
Azadirachta indica
- Description
- A fast-growing evergreen tree with a broad crown and bitter-tasting leaves and fruit, introduced from Asia and now widespread across the Sahel and savanna Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves, bark, and seed oil are used across Africa and Asia for malaria, fever, skin infections, and as an insect repellent; neem twigs are commonly used as chewing sticks.
- Cultivation
- A hardy, drought-tolerant shade and shelterbelt tree, easily grown from seed and widely planted along roadsides and around homesteads.
Jequirity bean; Prayer bead; Coral pea; Crab's eye
Abrus precatorius
- Description
- A slender climbing vine bearing pods of hard, glossy scarlet-and-black seeds, popularly used as beads.
- Medicinal uses
- Roots and leaves are used in traditional medicine for coughs, colds, and fever. The seeds contain abrin, an extremely toxic compound — even a single chewed seed can be fatal, so seeds are for ornamental/craft use only, never taken internally.
- Cultivation
- A wild climbing vine of thickets and forest margins, also grown ornamentally for its brightly colored seeds used in jewelry and rosaries.
White water lily; Egyptian lotus; Sacred lotus
Nymphaea lotus
- Description
- An aquatic herb with floating round leaves and white or pinkish flowers, rooted in the mud of ponds and slow rivers.
- Medicinal uses
- Rhizomes, leaves, and flowers are used in African traditional medicine as a sedative and for stomach and skin ailments.
- As food
- The starchy rhizomes and seeds have been eaten in times of scarcity in parts of Africa.
- Cultivation
- Grows wild rooted in the mud of ponds, swamps, and slow-moving water; propagates by seed and rhizome division.
Savanna quassia; West African quassia
Quassia undulata (syn. Hannoa undulata)
- Description
- A savanna shrub or small tree in the quassia family, with bitter bark and wood (Quassia undulata, formerly Hannoa undulata).
- Medicinal uses
- Bark, twig, and root preparations are used across West Africa for fever, stomach troubles, liver ailments, eye problems, leprosy, and convulsions; the bitter extracts have documented antimicrobial and insect-repelling properties.
- Cultivation
- A wild savanna shrub/tree of the Guinean and Sudanian vegetation zones.
Pomegranate
Punica granatum
- Description
- A large deciduous shrub or small tree bearing round fruit filled with juicy, seed-filled arils.
- Medicinal uses
- Fruit rind and bark are used traditionally against diarrhoea and intestinal worms; the fruit and juice are widely studied for antioxidant properties.
- As food
- The juicy arils are eaten fresh or pressed into juice; used in drinks, syrups (such as grenadine), and cooking.
- Cultivation
- Propagated from cuttings or seed; tolerant of drought and a wide range of soils, commonly grown in home gardens.
Love vine; Dodder laurel; Woe vine
Cassytha filiformis
- Description
- A leafless, thread-like parasitic vine that twines over host shrubs and trees, drawing water and nutrients through small suckers, resembling dodder.
- Medicinal uses
- Used in northern Nigeria for diabetes, and elsewhere in West Africa for gastric ulcers, haemorrhoids, and cough. Contains a mildly toxic alkaloid, so large doses should be avoided.
- Cultivation
- A wild parasitic vine found on shrubs, trees, and other vines in open and coastal vegetation; not cultivated.
African allophylus; Forest false currant
Allophyllus africanus
- Description
- A small tree or shrub with trifoliate leaves, widespread across tropical Africa in forest and savanna margins.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves and bark are used across Africa for conjunctivitis, colic, fever, diarrhoea, toothache, cough, and rheumatism.
- Cultivation
- A wild shrub/small tree of forest margins and savanna woodland.
Love Vine, Dodder Laurel, Devil's Guts, Witch's Hair, Woe Vine, False Dodder.
Cassytha filiformis
- Description
- assytha filiformis, commonly called Love Vine or Dodder Laurel, is a parasitic vine widely found in tropical regions and known for its medicinal, ritual, and cosmetic uses in African traditional knowledge.
- Medicinal uses
- It is traditionally used to treat urinary and reproductive conditions, skin and hair problems, fever, digestive disorders, and inflammation, though excessive use can be toxic.
- As food
- Parts of the plant, including its small fruits and stem decoctions, are occasionally consumed as nutritional supplements or flavoring agents in traditional diets.
- Ritual uses
- The vine is used in spiritual cleansing, hair cosmetics, natural dye production, traditional crafts, and as a natural pesticide or fish poison.
- Cultivation
- The plant is not intentionally cultivated and is usually controlled or removed due to its aggressive parasitic nature and potential harm to host plants.
African mesquite, Iron tree, Ironwood.
Prosopis africana
- Description
- Prosopis africana is commonly known in English as the African mesquite or Ironwood, reflecting the extreme hardness of its wood. Among the Tiv people, it is known as Gbaaye and is highly valued for its food, medicinal, and practical uses.
- Medicinal uses
- In Tiv traditional medicine, almost all parts of Prosopis africana are used. The leaves are prepared for treating headaches, migraines, dizziness, and rheumatism. Bark decoctions are widely used for toothache, eye washing, skin diseases, fevers, and dental caries; the bark’s high tannin content also makes it effective as an astringent and for dressing wounds and burns. The roots are used as a diuretic and in remedies for gonorrhea, bronchitis, and stomach pain. The stem is commonly used as a chewing stick, supporting oral hygiene. Overall, the tree is regarded as a powerful medicinal species with pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
- As food
- Among the Tiv, Prosopis africana is especially important as a food condiment tree. The seeds are processed into a fermented product known locally as Gbaaye, which is rich in protein and fats. This condiment is widely used to flavor soups and often serves as a meat substitute. During the dry season, the young leaves, shoots, and pods are used as livestock fodder. The seed endosperm also produces a water-soluble gum, which may be used in food preparation and processing
- Cultivation
- Although traditionally harvested from the wild, Prosopis africana is increasingly recognized by Tiv farmers as a valuable tree for agroforestry systems. It thrives in sunny savanna environments, prefers well-drained soils, and is highly drought-resistant. Propagation is mainly by seed, which requires pre-treatment such as soaking in warm water or lightly nicking the seed coat to improve germination. Seedlings are usually raised in nurseries before transplanting. The tree grows relatively fast, responds well to coppicing and pollarding, and, as a nitrogen-fixing species, helps improve soil fertility.
African mesquite; African prosopis
Prosopis africana
- Description
- A slow-growing savanna tree with a dense crown and very hard, dark, durable wood, a valued source of timber and fuel.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark and root preparations are used across West Africa for toothache, dysentery, leprosy, and skin infections.
- As food
- Seeds are fermented into a protein-rich condiment similar to dawadawa, used to flavor soups and stews.
- Cultivation
- A slow-growing wild savanna tree; the extremely hard, termite-resistant wood is prized for tool handles, mortars, and construction posts.
African arrowroot lily; Tahiti arrowroot
Zingiberaceae guineense
- Description
- A perennial herb with a large underground tuber and deeply divided leaves, known as Polynesian or Tahiti arrowroot.
- As food
- The starchy tuber is processed (washed repeatedly to remove bitter, toxic compounds) into an edible starch used like arrowroot; raw tubers are toxic and must be properly processed before eating.
- Cultivation
- Grows wild and is also cultivated for its tuber in sandy coastal and savanna soils across the Old World tropics.
Wild seringa, Wild syringa, Red seringa, Sand seringa
Burkea africana
- Description
- Burkea africana is a multipurpose deciduous, medium-sized, flat-topped tree belonging to the Fabaceae family, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Africa. It is highly regarded for its medicinal properties, timber, and food resources.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark, roots, leaves, and twigs are used to treat fevers, malaria, digestive issues, skin diseases, epilepsy, and dental problems, with antioxidant and anti-infective properties.
- As food
- Leaves feed edible caterpillars, young leaves and flowers are eaten as vegetables, and the bark resin or gum is sometimes consumed as a snack.
- Ritual uses
- The bark is used in dyes, as fish poison, and in traditional medicinal or ritual concoctions, while the wood is valued for furniture, flooring, railway sleepers, poles, and iron smelting.
- Cultivation
- Propagation is mainly by seeds, which require scarification or acid treatment to improve germination; seedlings need shaded, well-drained soil, and natural regeneration occurs via coppicing.
Wild seringa; Savanna teak; Mockernut
Burkea africana
- Description
- A flat-topped deciduous savanna tree, widespread across tropical and southern Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark and roots are used across Africa for hepatitis, jaundice, diarrhoea, stomach ache, fever, cough, toothache, and skin disease.
- As food
- Its leaves are the sole food source for two kinds of edible caterpillar, harvested by the thousand in the rainy season.
- Cultivation
- A fire-tolerant savanna tree; the wood is used for mortars and the bark as a basket-weaving dye.
Wild soybean; Bush soybean
Adenodolichos paniculatus
- Description
- A wild legume of West African savanna and bushland, related to cultivated soybean.
- Cultivation
- A wild legume, not commercially cultivated.
Garden spurge; Asthma weed; Hairy spurge
Euphorbia hirta
- Description
- A low, hairy annual weed with tiny reddish flower clusters, common on waste ground and in lawns worldwide.
- Medicinal uses
- Widely used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory complaints, hence its common name; also used for diarrhoea and skin conditions.
- Cultivation
- A common weed of disturbed ground, roadsides, and waste land.
Forest liana
Chasmantera dependens
- Description
- A forest liana of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae).
- Cultivation
- A climbing liana of forest habitats.
