K
kaba, the fronds of the goriba, q.v. or “Dum Palm,” Hyphæne Thebaica, Mart. (less applied to other palms, e.g. kabar giginya); used for plaiting mats, baskets, cordage, &c. cf. gangame, kankami, and ḳarri.
kabar giwa (Kano and East), Aloe Barteri, Baker? (Liliaceæ); an aloe with speckled succulent sharp-pointed leaves and yellow or red flowers. Syn. zabo (Sok.), q.v.
ḳabdodo or ḳaudodo (Sok. and Kats.), or ḳwododo, Capparis tomentosa, Lam. (Capparideæ); a thorny shrub of climbing habit with a small orange-like fruit. vide haujeri (Katagum, &c.), and ?chauchaka (Zanfara), also ?chizaki.
kabewa (Kano, &c. = kubewa, Sok. but not kuḅewa, the okra, q.v.) Cucurbita Pepo, DC. (Cucurbitaceæ). Pumpkin or Pompion; (probably also C. maxima, Duch. Squash Gourd) a large cultivated gourd with harsh foliage and yellow flowers. Syn. goji (Zaria). kabushi (Sok.), or ruguguwa (Kano) = a long var. (var. ovifera) the Vegetable Marrow. gundar kabewa = the small immature fruits, used in soup; cf. under ḍorowa.
kabido, a long waterproof hood, made usually from palm-leaf of tukuruwa, q.v.
kachalla (Kanuri), vide shalla or salla.
kaḍa (Sok.), Cotton or the Cotton Plant; vide abduga.
kaḍa kaḍa (Kontagora), Cienfuegosia heteroclada, Sprague, (Bixineæ). A low shrub with pink flowers appearing from the base, and pods with a rusty wool resembling cotton.
kaḍanya or kaḍai, Butyrospermum Parkii, Kotschy. (Sapotaceæ). Shea Butter Tree. ḳwara = the kernel, used for production of the fat by boiling and skimming; man kaḍai = shea butter used as food, as an illuminant, and as a vehicle for medicines. The soft fleshy part of the fruit is edible. (hanchin kaḍai, vide ḳanumfari). namijin kaḍai, or mijin kaḍai = Lophira alata, Banks. (Dipterocarpeæ). “Meni Oil Tree.” A tree with white flowers and foliage which resembles that of kaḍanya. Bark medicinal, and leaf a common ju-ju or charm amongst some pagan tribes. The tree is sometimes (erroneously) called “African Oak.” Syn. kujeme?
kaḍanyar rafi or kaḍanyar kurumi, Adina microcephala, Hiern. (Rubiaceæ); a large tree with spherical heads of flowers, found on the banks of streams. (In the Benué region the name kaḍanyar kurumi or kiriyar kurumi has been applied to a different hard-wooded forest-tree.)
kadaura (Kano, Zaria, &c.), Pardaniellia oliveri, Rolfe (= Daniellia thurifera, Bennett), (Leguminosæ). West African or Ilorin Copaiba Balsam Tree. Wood oil Tree. A large tree, the source of much of the West African copal. Syn. maje (Sok., &c.), q.v.
kaḍai, vide kaḍanya.
ka fafogo, Uapaca guineensis, Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceæ); a tree resembling a fig-tree, with broad shining leaves and yellowish ovoid fruit; sometimes an ingredient in arrow poison.
ḳafar fakara, or ḳafar gauraka (Sok. and Kats.), Chloris breviseta, Benth. (Gramineæ) (and C. virgata, Sw.). A grass about 2 feet high with radiating flower-spikes; seeds edible. Syn. sawun gauraka (Katagum &c.).
ḳafar kaza (Sok. and Zanf.), Ipomœa pterygocaulos, Hall fil. (Convolvulaceæ); a twiner with white flowers, winged stems and a divided leaf.
ḳafar mutuwa, Mallotus oppositifolius, Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceæ); a shrub growing on river-banks, with heart-shaped leaves used as a vermifuge.
ka fi boka, Ipomœa argentaurata, Hall fil. (Convolvulaceæ); a trailing convolvulus with whitish flowers and silvery hairy leaves. (Etym. from its use as a medicinal charm). Syn. farin gammo.
ka fi malam, Evolvulus alsinoides, Linn. (Convolvulaceæ). A small herb with pale blue flowers. (Etym. from its many uses as a medicine, love charm, &c.)
ka fi rama (Kano, &c.), Urena lobata, Linn. (Malvaceæ). An undershrub with pink flowers and bark yielding a fibre. Syn. ramaniya (Sok., Kats., &c.), q.v. vide also under garamani.
ḳafon baḍi or ḳ. batsi (Kano), a plant eaten in famine at the end of the dry season. Probably some of the tuberous Asclepiads or “Milkweeds” and others related, e.g. Cryptolepis nigritana, N.E. Br. (Apocynaceæ), an erect slender-branched undershrub with milky juice and a thickened root, is so named.
ḳaguwa (Kano and East), or aguwa (Sok., Kats., &c.), Euphorbia sepium, N.E. Br.; a variety of “Milk Hedge,” a shrub with milky juice, planted as a hedge; very common in the north; (different from fidda sartsi, q.v.). Syn. aliyara (Gobir); waiyaro (Katagum). Used medicinally chiefly for horses.
ḳaidaji (Kano), ḳardaji (Sok.), Mimosa asperata, Linn. (Leguminosæ). A thorny mimosa abundant on river-banks with pinkish balls of flowers and slightly sensitive leaves. (Etym. a corruption of ḳaya da jini). In Sokoto sometimes spoken of as gumbi, q.v.
ḳaidajin ruwa, Æschynome crassicaulis, Harms. (Leguminosæ); a trailing water-plant with pinnate leaves and yellow flowers, on the surface of pools or muddy swamps. ?Syn. innuwar tufi (Sok.), q.v. and yaron kogi (Katagum).
ḳaiḳai, Parinarium polyandrum, Benth. (Rosaceæ); a tree with bunches of purple grape-like fruit; (scarcely distinct in Hausa from rura, q.v.).
ḳaiḳai ḳoma ḳan mashikiya, Indigofera astragalina, DC. (Leguminosæ); an erect hairy weed, used as a medicinal charm against poison and other injury. (Etym. “Oh chaff, return upon the winnower”!—intended injury returning to the evildoer’s hurt).
kaikwaiyo, vide under aduwa.
ḳaimin ḳadangare, Achryanthes aspera, Linn. (Amaranthaceæ). A weed with reflexed sharply spiked flowers. Syn. haḳorin machiji, q.v.
kain ḅarawo or kain mutum, Leonotis pallida, Benth. (Labiatæ). A tall herb with large globular whorls of flowers. Syn. tsikar sabra or tsikar gida (Sok.).
kain fakara, Cucumis Prophetarum, Linn. (Cucurbitaceæ). A ground trailer with striped gooseberry-like fruit, covered with soft prickles. Used medicinally. Syn. kanchekulkul (Kano, Kats. and East), and ya manya (Sok.).
kain mutum, vide kain ḅarawo.
kai nuwa, Pistia Stratiotes, Linn. (Aroideæ). “Water Lettuce.” A floating plant filling stagnant pools.
kaiwa (Sok.), or kanya (Kano), Diospyros mespiliformis, Hochst. (Ebenaceæ). African Ebony Tree or Monkey Guava. A tree with very dark foliage and bark; the yellowish fruit with a brittle rind is edible and used for making maḍi.
kajiji (Kanuri), Cyperus articulatus, Linn. A sedge with fragrant tuberous root, wild and cultivated in Bornu, &c., much used as a perfume for clothing, &c., and as a medicine.
kajiji ḍan Tunuga, Cyperus sp. A sedge with a fragrant tuber similarly used. (Tunuga = a town in French Borgu). Other varieties of false kajiji are species of Cyperus with fragrant roots. vide gizgiri.
kajinjiri, a small species of palm; vide dabinon biri.
kaka biyu, a var. of bean; vide under wake.
kaka or (yaya) kai ka fitto, Sida linifolia, Cav. (Malvaceæ). A weed with hard stem. (Etym. from growing in hard soil; probably used for several different plants).
ka ḳi ganinbila, vide under hana gobara and dali.
ka ḳi ruwan Allah, vide kwarko.
ka ḳi zuwa Hausa, Costus afer, Ker. (Scitamineæ); a plant of the ginger family found in shaded ravines. (Etym. because supposed not to grow in Hausaland).
kakuma, a grass of marshes and river-banks; used to form tie-tie for zana, &c.
kalangon daji, a tree with large 4-angled pods. ?Tetrapleura sp. cf. dawo and sandan mayu.
kalgo, vide kargo.
kaluwa = seeds of ḍorowa, q.v.
kama, a tuber, somewhat like risga, planted in marshy ground; (different from gwaza and tumuku).
kamu mowa, Grewia sp. (Tiliaceæ); a shrub with small yellow flowers and sweet berries. Syn. gurdugu and ?kimbar dutsi.
kana kana (Sok. and Zanf.), Paullinia pinnata, Linn. (Sapindaceæ). A woody twiner with white flowers and scarlet capsular fruit; stems used as tanka for houses and fences, &c.; (perhaps included also under gwoḍeyi, q.v.).
ka nannaḍe (Kano), ka nannaḍo (Sok. Kats. and Gobir), a var. of bean with curled pods, used as food; the beans are small but broad, with pale brown speckling.
kanawa, a var. of cotton; vide under abduga.
kanchekulkul (Kano, Kats., &c.), Cucumis Prophetarum, Linn. (Cucurbitaceæ); vide kain fakara.
kandari, Terminalia macroptera, G. et P. (Combretaceæ); a large tree with flat-winged and embossed fruits; (very similar to baushe, q.v. but a different species).
kanju, coast Hausa for Cashew, Anacardium occidentale.
kankami = the withered fronds of any palm, burnt by pagans in several districts (e.g. Fogha), to extract a sort of inferior salt.
kankana, water-melon; vide under guna.
kansuwa, a grass; vide kyasuwa.
ḳanumfari = cloves, the flower-buds of Eugenia caryophyllata, Thunb. (Myrtaceæ); brought from the north. Called also hanchin kaḍai, from the resemblance to the peduncle of the shea fruit. (Etym. Arab. karanfal).
kanya (Kano), or kaiwa (Sok.), q.v. Diospyros mespiliformis, Hochst. (Ebenaceæ). “African Ebony Tree.”
ḳarama anta, Withania somnifera, Dunal. (Solanaceæ). A shrub sometimes planted near houses, with small red berries within an inflated calyx (like the Cape Gooseberry); used medicinally.
ḳarama mowa (Sok. and Kats.). A wild var. of rama, q.v. Hibiscus cannabinus, Linn. (Malvaceæ). A tall plant chiefly of damp places, having large yellow flowers with a purple centre (similar to rama) and a harsh almost prickly surface. (Etym. “little beloved,” said to be from the spicular pubescence which clings to the clothing). Synonyms of the same or allied varieties are:—ramar rafi, ramar ruwa, yakuwar daji, yakuwar kwaḍi, yakuwar ḳaimamowa, yakuwar ḳaya, &c.
karan dafi = the red leaf-sheaths of a var. of Sorghum (vide dawa), used chiefly as a dye for leather.
ḳarangiya, Cenchrus catharticus, Del. (Gramineæ). Prickly bur grass. A good fodder; seeds edible. ḳarangiya gumba, the uncooked seeds pounded and eaten raw, or prepared as fura.
ḳarangiyar kusu (Kano), or maḍaḍafin kusu (Sok.), Cyathula prostrata, Blume (Amaranthaceæ). A luxuriant weed of waste places, with a prickly bur. Also called tsatsarar ḅera, q.v.
karani, Digitaria Guyana, Kunth. a pale grass with white silvery flowering spikes; also called Ba-Fillatani, q.v. Syn. ?gaji (Sok.). vide darambuwa.
karan kaḅau, Andropogon (Arthrolepis) sp. nov. (Gramineæ). A tall grass with rather broad leaves. Syn. shamrayi (Gando).
karan kauji, vide fafewa.
karan masallachi, Caralluma Dalzielii, N.E. Br. (Asclepiadeæ). A leafless succulent plant with the habit of a small cactus, wild or planted near mosques, &c. Syn. wutsiyar damo (Sok. West), from the resemblance of the tapering young shoots to the tail of the damo, a large lizard, Varanus exanthematicus.
karan masallachin kogi, a name sometimes given to the taller sedges in pools, &c. vide gwaigwaya, (Cyperus exaltatus, Retz. &c.).
karan sariki, a name for rake, a sugar-cane. Saccharum officinarum, Linn.
karara, Mucuna pruriensis, DC. (Leguminosæ). “Cowitch” or “Cowhage.” A herbaceous climber with 3-foliate leaves; the pods especially are covered with rusty pungent hairs which cause intense irritation of the skin. (A species of “Velvet-bean”).
ḳarari = the fibrous veins of palm fronds (chiefly giginya and goriba), used for cordage, brooms, &c.
ḳarasa, 1. In Gobir, Daura, &c. = Bitter Cassava, Manihot utilissima, vide under rogo. 2. In Kano, &c. = the tuber of a species of yam = doyar kudu (“southern yam”) planted south of Kano, and in Zanfara, &c.; not eaten as sokwara (cooked mashed yam).
kardafi, vide under garamani.
ḳardaji, vide ḳaidaji.
ḳare aiki, a var. of rama, q.v.
kargo or kalgo, Bauhinia reticulata, DC. (Leguminosæ). A very common shrub in the bush, with bifid leaves and brown pods; bark used as cordage.
ḳariya, Adenium Honghel, DC. (Apocynaceæ). A peculiar shrub planted near dwellings, with pink flowers; leafless at the time of flowering. (Etym. “the falsehood,” because rarely seen in fruit—ḳariya fure ta ke yi yaya ba ta yi ba).
kariye galma (“break hoe”), Combretum herbaceum, Don, an undershrub with a hard root; vide taru. Several very different plants with fibrous tufted roots are sometimes called by this name, the peculiar structure of the galma rendering it liable to injury; e.g. Aneilema beniniensis, and others; vide under tsidaun kare.
kariye gatari (“break axe”), a name given to some hard-wood trees, e.g. maḳarfo and kurḍi, q.v.
ḳarḳara (Kano, &c.), Acacia campylacantha, Hochst. (= A. Catechu, Willd. Leguminosæ); a thorny acacia which yields a good gum used in commerce and medicinally. Syn. karki (Sok. Kats. and Zanf.), and ḳayar raḳumi; also ḳaro (Kano, Sok. and Kats. the name merely meaning gum and applied to other trees). vide also farichin shafo or ḳumbar shafo.
karkashi or kalkashi, Ceratotheca sesamoides, Endl. (Pedaliaceæ). A prostrate herb with viscid juice and flowers similar to riḍi, or beni seed, q.v. Leaves used in soup, &c. Syn. yauḍo, Sok. q.v.
karkashin zomo, Indigofera bracteolata, G. et P. (Leguminosæ). A very common plant in the bush, with small leaves and red flowers.
karki, vide ḳarḳara.
ḳaro, vide under ḳarḳara. (A name chiefly applied to Acacia campylacantha, but sometimes to other gum or resin-producing trees, e.g. kadaura, &c.); vide under maje.
kasara, Chloris robusta, Stapf, a tall grass with white radiating flower-spikes, found in the beds of rivers.
karmami = leafy shoots of dawa, gero, &c.
ḳarri = palm fronds; chiefly applied to giginya; vide kaba and gangame.
kasfiya (Sok. Kats. and Zanf.), Crossopteryx Kotschyana, Fenzl. (Rubiaceæ). A tree with bunches of whitish flowers and small hard black fruit. Also called kashin awaki (from the appearance of the fruit).
kashe kaji, vide under kaskawami.
kashi kashi ?(Kontagora), a large leguminous tree; vide kolo.
kashin gwanki, one of the names for Cucumis Figarei, Del. a prostrate weed of the gourd family; vide gunar kura or tsuwawun zaki.
kashin kaza, a kind of bean; vide under giri giri.
kaskaifi, Uraria picta, Desv. (Leguminosæ). A low perennial plant with long cylindrical flower-spike. (Etym. from its use as a medicinal charm against cutting weapons). Syn. dakushe, Sok. (Etym. “to be blunt”)—name probably applied to several plants, or to the prescription so used. cf. miya tsanya.
kaskawami, Psorospermum senegalense, Spach. (Hypericineæ). A shrub with red berries and dotted leaves. The leaves and bark are used as a remedy for itch, &c. also called kashe kaji.
kasmakaru, Aristida mutabilis, Trin. and Rupr. (Gramineæ). A grass with 3-rayed sharp awns, injurious to horses. (Etym. from injury to the jaw caused by the sharp awns)—name probably applied to several grasses.
katambiri, 1. A tree with a ribbed fleshy fruit full of small seeds used to prepare a black cosmetic; (probably several species of Randia, and Gardenia, Nat. Ord. Rubiaceæ, e.g. Randia malleifera, Benth. et Hook. fil.). 2. The cosmetic prepared from this or from the fruit of gauḍe, q.v.
katsaimu (Sok. Kats. and East), Aristida stipoides, Lam. (Gramineæ). A tall grass with graceful panicle of sharply awned florets; commonly used for thatching, &c. Syn. garasa (Sok. and West); also wutsiyar jaki (Sok., &c.), and tsintsiyar kogi or ts. maza (Katagum). An insect-gall forming a top-shaped swelling on the stem of this grass is variously named, kunda, q.v. mazarin kyanwa, gudumar biri, or goron yan makaranta.
ḳatsa ḳatsa = burtuntuna, a Guinea-corn blight; vide under dawa.
katsami = daudawar kuka, vide under kuka.
katsări, Albizzia Chevalieri, Harms. (Leguminosæ); a tree of the acacia type, with loose balls of whitish fragrant flowers and flat brown pods; the bark is used by tanners in some districts.
kauchi, Loranthus pentagona, DC. (and L. dodoneæfolius, DC. and other spp.) (Loranthaceæ). A parasitic shrub commonly growing on various trees; e.g. on ḳadanya called kauchin kaḍai. Used medicinally and as a charm. vide also under sansami. Sometimes called W. Indian Mistletoe.
ḳaudodo, vide ḳabdodo.
kaura, a var. of dawa, q.v.
kawo, Afzelia africana, Smith (Leguminosæ); one of the African Mahoganies or “Mahogany Bean,” a large shade tree, with thick very hard pods and large black seeds. The seeds are sold as a medicinal charm called fasa daga, q.v. The leaves are used as a cattle food.
ḳawuri, Ficus kawuri, Hutch. (Urticaceæ); a large tree of the fig family, yielding a white latex collected as rubber. (Ficus glumosa, Del. is included).
ḳayar giwa, a ground-trailer with thorny stem and a tuberous root edible when cooked; sometimes used in famine. Syn. doyar giwa.
ḳayar ḳadangare, Asparagus Pauli-Guilelmi, Solms. and Laub. and other spp. (Liliaceæ); a straggling half-climbing plant with prickles and acicular leaves. Syn. masun ḳadangare (“lizard’s spears”); more commonly called tsatsarar ḅera, but vide also ḳarangiyar kusu. Stems used for traps, &c.
ḳayar kusu? vide kwaranga.
ḳayar raḳumi, vide under ḳarḳara.
ḳeḳasheshe, 1. Syn. tsiyayi = peeled stems of rama, q.v. used in medicine and magic; also after scotching applied as a black pigment in wall decoration; (cf. zamarke). 2. The name of one or more different plants in the bush.
ḳerama, a var. of dawa, q.v.
kerana (Kano, &c.), Euphorbia Barteri, N.E. Br. a tall branched cactus-like tree with angled prickly stem and milky juice. The name includes other species commonly classed as E. abyssinica, Gmelin, used as a fence.
kibiyar daji, vide under tsika.
kilili = flowers of the date palm; vide under dabino.
kimba, Xylopia æthiopica, A. Rich. (Anonaceæ). “African,” “Guinea,” or “Negro Pepper.” A tree; the small cylindrical black pods are sold as a medicine and spice.
kimba kimba or kimbar dawaki, &c., Hyptis pectinata, Poir (Labiatæ). An erect odorous weed of damp places.
kimbar dutsi, vide kamu mowa.
kimbar mahalba (Sok. Kats. and Zanf.), Lantana salvifolia, Jacq. (Verbenaceæ). An undershrub with fragrant leaves and flowers used to flavour food, milk, &c.
kimbar rafi, ?Platystonia africana, P. Beauv. (Labiatæ). A luxuriant weed of river-beds with slightly fragrant leaves; used medicinally.
kinchiya (Sok. and Kats.), Stylochiton Dalzielii, N.E. Br. (Aroideæ). Syn. gwandayi, q.v.
ḳini (Sok. and Kats.), Tephrosia purpurea, Pers. (Leguminosæ). A branched undershrub with soft leaves and pink flowers; used medicinally. Syn. maraguwa (Katagum, &c.).
kiri kiri, Cynodon dactylon, Pers. (Gramineæ). “Dub Grass.” “Bermuda Grass.” A small creeping grass with narrow radiating flower-spikes; a good fodder; capable of forming turf and binding sand. Syn. tsarkiyar zomo (Sok.).
kiriya, Prosopis oblonga, Benth. (Leguminosæ); an acacia-like tree with white flowering spikes and brown pods; the seeds called akiye or akwiye (Nupe piye), are used to make daudawa, q.v.
namijin kiriya, vide kolo.
kiriyar kurumi or kaḍanyar kurumi, a name given to a hard-wooded forest tree of the Benué region, not known in Hausa.
kirni (Kano), or kisni (Sok. and Zanf.), Briedelia ferruginea, Benth. (Euphorbiaceæ). A shrub, the root of which is in some districts used as an antidote to arrow-poison. makubar mahalba = a fermented extract of the bark used sometimes for hardening floors; (vide under ḍorowa).
kirtani, a strong twine made from fibre of yawan wake, tumfafiya, and yaḍiya, q.v.
ḳi taḅewa, a medicine; sold in the form of small tuberous pieces with rootlets (probably the root of a grass); used in fumigation as a charm, love-potion, &c. (Etym. “fail me never”).
ḳodagaya, a kind of bean; ?Canavalia ensiformis, DC. Cultivated as a climber on fences and trees, &c.
ḳodago or (ḳwalo), the hard-shelled nut of the Dum palm, vide under goriba.
kokara, a hard-wooded tree; walking-sticks and cudgels called umara, are made from it.
ko karani, a var. of rama, q.v.
ḳoḳiya, Strychnos spinosa, Lam. (Loganiaceæ). A tree with yellow hard-shelled fruit a little larger than an orange; the acid pulp is edible, the seeds are poisonous.
namijin ḳoḳiya, Strychnos alnifolia, Baker, and S. triclisioides, Baker; two very similar shrubs with smaller fruit than ḳoḳiya; not edible.
ḳoḳiyar biri (Kontagora), Voacanga obtusa, K. Schum. (Apocynaceæ). A tree with paired capsular fruit, which grows in damp ravines.
koko, vide under duma.
kokochiko, Oncoba spinosa, Forsk. (Bixaceæ); a thorny tree with white rose-like flowers and a hard globular fruit which is used as a rattle. (Etym. kokochiko = a child’s rattle).
kokuwa (Sok. and West), Limonia sp. (Rutaceæ); a tree with hard green orange-like fruit.
kolo (Zanfara), Amblygonocarpus Schweinfurthii, Harms. (Leguminosæ); a large tree with twice-pinnate leaves and brown 4-angled pods. Syn. namijin kiriya (Sok.), kashi kashi ?(Kontagora).
kololo, a var. of the bottle-gourd; vide under duma.
komaya (Kano), Eragrostis tremula, Hochst. (Gramineæ). A common wild fodder grass; grain eaten in scarcity. Syn. burburwa (Sok.). komaya ta fadama, Eragrostis biformis, Kunth. and other spp.; taller grasses of wet places, resembling komaya.
komfa or chitta komfa, a var. of spice; vide under chitta.
korkoro (Kontagora), a grass, vide fafewa. cf. also kwarkoro, vide under kwarko.
ḳosai, vide under wake.
ḳosain rogo, Dioscorea dumetorum, Pax. (Dioscorideæ); a species of wild yam with 3-fol. leaves. Syn. rogon biri.
kosfa = the shell or pod of a dehiscent fruit.
kuḅewa, Hibiscus esculentus, Linn. (Malvaceæ). Okra. A broad-leaved malvaceous plant cultivated for its mucilaginous capsules used as a vegetable. Syn. guro (Sok.);
takeyi (East Hausa) = soup of okra (from the Ful. name takeiyeji). (kubewa, pumpkin, vide kabewa).
kubla (Sok.), or kulla, Thonningia sanguinea, Vahl. (Balanophoreæ); a parasitic plant found in the bush, with an aromatic root used as a spice.
kudaku (Sok. Zanf., &c.). Sweet Potato. vide dankali.
ḳuduji, Striga senegalensis, Benth. (Scrophularineæ). A red-flowered parasitic weed common in cultivated fields. It is believed to destroy the growing dawa, and hence is called makasar dawa or makasha. Syn. wuta wuta; gaugayi ?(Gobir).
kufi, an oily extract made from the seeds of zurma (Castor Oil, Ricinus communis), chi ni da zugu (Physic Nut, Jatropha Curcas), and aduwa (Balanites ægyptiaca); used as an application for sores in domestic stock.
kugundugu, vide under dankali.
kujeme, vide under kaḍanya.
kuka, Adansonia digitata, B. Juss. (Malvaceæ). “Baobab,” “Monkey Bread Tree,” “Sour Gourd.” Inner bark used for rope, strings of musical instruments, &c. The acid and mucilaginous pulp of the fruit is used in various ways as food and drink. kwaikwaiyo (Kano) = the husk or shell of the indehiscent fruit; garin kuka = the mealy acid pulp around the seeds; guntsu (Kano) = seeds of kuka (Ful. gorgomi); daudawar kuka = fermented cakes made from the seeds (as with ḍorowa, q.v.), also called katsami (Kano and East); chusar doki = pounded leaves of kuka, with dusa and kanwa, used as food or medicine for horses; miyar kuka or kalun kuka = the leaves used for soup; kumbali = the Baobab flower.
kukuki, Sterculia tomentosa, Guill. et Perr. (Sterculiaceæ); a common tree which yields a gum like tragacanth; the bark contains an almost tasteless watery juice which is sucked by thirsty carriers, &c.
kulbutu, vide tsana.
kulla, vide kubla.
kuloko (Sok., &c.) = a black dye for leather, prepared as a fermented extract of “Sant Pods” (bagaruwa, q.v. Acacia arabica), and kwan mukera (blacksmiths’ refuse of fused iron oxide and carbon), and mixed with honey or syrup.
kulufita, a small prolific var. of the native bitter tomato; vide under gauta. (Etym. kullum fita).
kumbali = the flower of the Baobab; vide under kuka.
ḳumbar shafo, vide farichin shafo.
kumbu, vide under duma.
ḳumchi (Sok. and Zanf.), vide majiriyar kurumi.
kunda (Sok. and Kats.), an insect-gall forming a swelling on the stem of the grass katsaimu, q.v. used as a toy dart to shoot birds.
ḳundu, vide giginya.
ḳunḳushewa, Gymnosporia senegalensis, Loes. (Celastrineæ); a common shrub in the bush, with spines and delicate white flowers. Syn. namijin tsada.
kunnen zomo, vide takalmin zomo.
kununguru (East Hausa), Commelyna nudiflora, Linn.; a common weed, better known as balasa, q.v.
ḳurar shanu, Euphorbia ægyptiaca, Boiss. (Euphorbiaceæ); a small weed of pastures with milky juice; used medicinally. Syn. rapasa (Kano).
kurḍi, Burkea africana, Hook. (Leguminosæ); a large hard-wooded tree with black bark and pale twice-pinnate leaves; sometimes called baḳin maḳarfo. (In Sokoto itchen kurḍi = Melia Azedarach, vide kurnan nasara). cf. also kariye gatari.
kurḍin machiji (Katagum), Ipomœa sp. (Convolvulaceæ). A twining convolvulus with purple and white flowers. (Etym. perhaps from the resemblance of the ripe capsules to cowrie shells).
kurgum (Kanuri) = turmeric; vide gangamau.
kuringa, vide kwaranga.
kuriya (Sok. and Zanf.), Bombax buonopozense, Beauv. (Malvaceæ). “Red-flowered Silk Cotton Tree.” Syn. gurjiya, q.v.
kurna, Zizyphus Spina-Christi, Willd. (Rhamnaceæ). A thorny tree with brownish edible berries, common in towns. cf. magariya.
kurnan nasara (Kontagora, &c.), Melia Azedarach, Linn. (Meliaceæ). “Pride of India,” “Persian or Egyptian Lilac,” or “Bead Tree.” A tree with twice-pinnate leaves and panicles of lilac flowers, often planted in towns. (The ovoid yellow fruit has a superficial resemblance to that of kurna. Etym. from its exotic origin; nasara = Christian). In Sokoto called itchen kurḍi or taḅa ni ka samu (kurḍi) from some belief in luck associated with it; seeds called yayan tasbaha because used for rosary beads.
kurtu or kurtun lalle, vide under duma.
kurukubi, Grewia sp. (Tiliaceæ); a shrub with rough leaves and edible berries.
ḳuruḳuru (Sok. Kats. Katagum, &c.), Feretia canthioides, Hiern. (Rubiaceæ); a shrub with fragrant jasmine-like white flowers. Syn. lallen suri or lallen jibba (from its common habitat near ant-hills); goge (?Hausa); vide rigyakafi.
ḳurzun ḍinya, vide under ḍinya.
kurzunu, a tubercled variety of an edible gourd like a cucumber; (?a var. of the bottle-gourd Lagenaria vulgaris, vide under duma).
kusumburuwa, vide under dawa.
kututu, vide under masara.
kwachiya, a small calabash; vide under duma.
kwagiri, a woody creeper, a sort of jointed cane used for walking sticks, &c.
kwaikwaiyo, vide under kuka and aduwa.
kwakwa, Elais guineensis, Jacq. (Palmeæ). Oil Palm. man ja = palm oil derived from the outer fleshy pulp of the nut; the kernel yields a different oil.
kwakwar Attagara, Cocos nucifera, Linn. Coco-nut Palm (from the name of an Igara town on the lower Niger).
kwalli kwalli, vide under geḍa.
ḳwalo = the ripe hard-shelled nut of the palm goriba, q.v. Syn. ḳodago.
kwalshi = the edible kernel of the unripe nut of goriba chiefly (but also of giginya); q.v.
ḳwama (Sok. and Gobir), a var. of the common bean; vide under wake.
ḳwandariya, a thorny acacia yielding gum; (?Acacia caffra, Willd.); stems used for walking-sticks; said to be so thorny that biri ya kwana a ḳassa.
kwankwani, Strophanthus hispidus, DC. and S. sarmentosus, DC. (Apocynaceæ). Arrow-poison plants. The former is a shrub with lax branches, frequently cultivated, with long narrow beaked pods; the latter a tall woody climber growing on trees, &c. chiefly in ravines, and has stout obtuse pods. The seeds are the chief and the only essential ingredient in N. Nigerian arrow-poison. Syn. tantsiya (Sok. Ful. tantsiyari). yaḅi (East Hausa) = arrow-poison (from yaḅe to daub or smear); syn. zabgai.