A Hausa botanical vocabulary

kwankwan dafi (Sok. and Kats.), Indigofera echinata, Willd. (Leguminosæ). vide gujiyar hankaka.

kwankwarimi (Zanfara), Wissadula rostrata, Planch. (Malvaceæ). A tall stiff undershrub with small yellow flowers; the bark yields a hemp-like fibre. Sometimes called ramar kurimi.

kwankwarita (East Hausa), Trapa bispinosa, Roxb. (Onagrarieæ). “Water Chestnut.” vide under geḍar ruwa. The name includes the rhizome of bădo, q.v.

kwanta Ali da zugu, a var. of the cotton shrub; vide under abduga.

kwantal (Sok.), or gurji kwantal; vide gurji.

kwaranga or (kuringa), kwarangar wofi, Smilax Kraussiana, Meisn. (Liliaceæ); a prickly twiner with 5-nerved leaves and a tuberous root used medicinally; related to Sarsaparilla. (Etym. “bastard ladder”). Syn. ?ḳayar kusu.

ḳwaras ḳwaras, the same as kwaruru but vide under gujiya.

kwardauḍa, vide dauḍa.

kwari, a slender soft-wooded tree with long broad leaves, in ravines, sometimes called “Cabbage Tree.” (Etym. kwari = a quiver, because used for making quivers). Anthocleista nobilis, G. Don. (= A. Vogelii, Planch.) and A. parviflora, Baker (Loganiaceæ).

ḳwariya, the common calabash; vide under duma.

kwarko (Kano), or kwarkoro, Argemone mexicana, Linn. (Papaveraceæ). “Yellow Mexican Poppy,” a common prickly poppy of fields and waste places near houses. Syn. haḳorin kada (from the Ful. name); ya (or ka) ḳi ruwan Allah (because essentially a dry-season plant, and because the glaucous leaves throw off rain or dew); (kada ka taḅa yaro is a Yoruba equivalent). The root is used for cotton spools, and as a stimulant by drummers, &c.

kwaruru, Voandzeia subterranea, Thouars. (Leguminosæ). The Bambarra Ground Nut. Syn. gujiya, q.v. A species of ground bean cultivated like geḍa and like it developing its pods underground. It differs from geḍa in having 3-foliate leaves (4 leaflets in geḍa), and spherical usually one-seeded pods with variegated seeds. The allied Kerstingiella geocarpa, Harms. is cultivated in some districts in Nupé and the south. yaro da dariya = the seeds cracked and roasted (etym. from the gaping cracks); abakuru (Yoruba obokuru) = cooked ovoid cakes or balls with pepper, salt, &c. fried in oil (prepared preferably from kwaruru because it keeps better on a journey, &c.). lubatu = a kind of food made from kwaruru. (Etym. Yor. epa roro = round ground nut).

ḳwiwa or ḳwiya, Adenodolichos sp. nr. A. Auchietas, Harms. (Leguminosæ); a tall undershrub with 3-foliate leaves and slender straight branches used for tanka, &c.

ḳwododo, vide ḳabdodo.

ḳwododon kwaḍo (Kano), Amorphophallus Barteri, N.E. Br. (and other similar species of Aroideæ), an oddly shaped plant of the Arum lily family, with a flat lurid purple spathe. Syn. maḳworin maḳwododo and buran kare, q.v.

kwokiya, a var. of melon; vide under guna.

kwokwo or ḳoḳo, a small var. of calabash; vide under duma.

kwosusu, the second annual crop of indigo, said to be better than the first; vide under baba.

kwoton tadawa, vide under duma.

kwotowa (Sok.), Pergularia tomentosa, Linn. (Asclepiadeæ); vide fatakka.

kyamro or kyauro, k. kibiya, Saccharum spontaneum, Linn. (Gramineæ). A tall grass of river-banks and wet places with white plume-like flowering panicle. Stems commonly used for arrow-shafts. Syn. sheme, and ?sansari (Illo; used for arrows with detachable head). Sometimes referred to as abokin kibiya.

ḳyara, Cymbopogon Ruprechtii, Hack. (Gramineæ). A very common tall grass with sharp long-awned spikelets; used for zana after the spikelets have fallen.

ḳyasuwa or ḳansuwa, Pennisetum pedicellatum, (and P. setosum) (Gramineæ). A coarse tall grass with fluffy flowering heads; a common pest in waste places in towns, &c. Syn. fura (Kano and East). Sometimes distinguished from a somewhat similar grass of wet places as ḳ. tudu or ḳ. waje. cf. duza.

L

labaye = tofo, q.v. sprouting leaves of any plant; (sabon ganye mai tofo).

laḅayi, a var. of cotton; vide under abduga.

laḅanda, a name given to several varieties of grass used for thatching; in Sokoto and Zanfara generally = Andropogon apricus, var. africanus, Hack. vide jan baḳo.

labsur or lausur, Lepidium sativum, Linn. (Cruciferæ). “Common” or “Garden Cress.” Cultivated in Kano, &c. The seeds are a native medicine called algarif, q.v.

labuje, a var. of kola nut; vide under goro.

ladiko? a species of bean; vide ḅarankachi. (Possibly = lalego (Kano), a sort of hand-rattle used by women).

laka, vide under shalla.

lalaki (Sok.), vide under shinkafa.

lalemo (Sok.), a grass for thatching.

lalle, Lawsonia alba, Lam. (Lythrarieæ). “Egyptian Privet” or “Henna;” a small shrub planted for the sake of the leaves which are used all over the Sudan, in Egypt and the East, to dye the nails, &c.

lallen jibba or lallen suri, vide ḳuruḳuru.

lallen shamuwa (Sok.), Gisekia pharnaceoides, Linn. (Ficoideæ); a common spreading weed. (Etym. probably from the ruddy tinge of the plant). Syn. ?dandami.

lalu, Corchorus tridens, L. and C. trilocularis, L. (Tiliaceæ); common weeds related to jute, used as pot-herbs. Syn. turgunuwa; (including also the wild form of C. olitorius, vide under malafiya).

lanya, vide limniya.

lausur, vide labsur.

lawashi, vide under albasa.

lawur, 1. = Sweet Potato, vide dankali. 2. A var. of gero, q.v.

lemu, Citrus Medica, var. acida, Brandis (Aurantiaceæ). The Lime. A naturalized shrub in Nigeria. babban lemu or lemun Maka, The Orange (Citrus Aurantium, Linn.). lemun yan sariki, lemun magajiya or lemun Masar, The Citron (Citrus Medica, Linn.); rare but half naturalized near Sokoto. namijin lemu, vide innuwar gada.

liḍi, vide riḍi.

limniya or lanya = green algæ forming a slimy growth in stagnant water. Syn. dauḍar ruwa.

limniyar kwaḍi or lanyar kwaḍi, Kœmpferia æthiopica, Benth. (Scitamineæ); a plant with a conspicuous delicate purple flower growing in shady places (commonly mistaken for an orchid). Etym. = “frog-spawn,” from the slimy juice.

loda or lodar marina, Vitis pallida, Baker (Ampelideæ). Syn. dafara, q.v. A vine. The viscid extract of the root-bark gives a smooth surface to native cement used for dye-pits, &c. N.B. In Sokoto the name loda is also used for the plant with viscid juice, Rogeria adenophylla, J. Gay (Pedaliaceæ), vide baba rodo.

lojiya, vide rojiya.

loko, Chlorophora excelsa, Benth. and Hook. fil. (Urticaceæ). Iroko (S. Nigeria), or Odum (Gold Coast); a large timber tree; used for canoes, building, &c.

lubiya, vide rubiya.

luddai, a var. of the bottle-gourd; vide under duma.

lubatu, a kind of food made from the ground-bean kwaruru, q.v.

M

mabakachi, a large calabash; vide under duma.

machara, a name for more than one species of grass with hollow stems; chiefly = the tall reed-grass Arundo Donax, Linn. from which flageolets are made. Syn. gabara, q.v. Also the smaller Panicum proliferum, Lam. var. longijubatum, Stapf; used by boys to make small whistles.

maḍachi or maḍwachi (Sok.), Khaya senegalensis, A. Juss. (Meliaceæ). A large timber tree; one of the species of “African Mahogany.” The bark is much used medicinally. (Etym. from the bitter bark).

maḍachin ḳassa, Aristolochia albida. Syn. dumar dutsi; vide under gaḍaukuka.

maḍaḍafi, Desmodium lasiocarpum, DC. (Leguminosæ); an undershrub the seeds of which are covered with minute hooked hairs which adhere to the clothing; vide ḍan kaḍafi.

maḍaḍafin kusu, vide ḳarangiyar kusu.

maḍas or maḍat, a poison usually made from tururibi, q.v. used for killing fish and vermin, as well as criminally.

madobia, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Poir. (Leguminosæ). An “African Rosewood” or “Bloodwood.” A large tree with yellow flowers and flat winged fruit with soft prickles. The blood-red resin from the trunk is a variety of “African Kino,” or “Dragon’s Blood,” a medicinal astringent. The bark is in some districts used as a red dye or cosmetic like majigi, q.v. where the latter is scarce.

maga, a var. of date; vide under ḍabino.

maganin kunama (Katagum), the local name for a leguminous weed with yellow flowers and inflated pods, used as a remedy for scorpion bite; Crotalaria atrorubens, Hochst.

magariya, Zizyphus jujuba, Lam. (Rhamnaceæ). “Jujube Tree.” A thorny shrub, resembling kurna, q.v. with pale brown edible berries.

magariyar kura, Zizyphus mucronata, Willd. (Rhamnaceæ). “Buffalo-horn.” A thorny scrambling shrub with red-brown berries; not edible.

magiumfa (Zanfara), vide majimfa.

magudiya (Kano, Sok., &c.), Polycarpæa linearifolia, DC. (Caryophylleæ). A common herb with heads of small scarious flowers; a common medicinal charm and ingredient of love-philtres, &c. (maganin farin jini). Syn. fular tsofo. cf. bakin suda. Also called mai-nasara, when used as a charm in hunting or war.

mai-farin kai (Sok.), Tricholæna rosea, Nees. var. sphacelata; a grass about 2 feet high with silvery fluffy flowering panicle.

mai-kain dubu (Sok.), Alternanthera sessilis, Br. (Amaranthaceæ); a prostrate weed with numerous small clusters of inconspicuous flowers.

maikeri, a var. of dawa, q.v.

mai-lalita, vide under matsarmama.

mai-nasara, vide under magudiya.

maiwa, Pennisetum spicatum, R. and S. var. a var of millet; cf. gero and damro; less wholesome than gero, and said to be injurious to horses.

maje (Sok., &c.), Pardaniellia Oliveri, Rolfe, (Daniellia Thurifera, Bennett), “West Afr. Copaiba Balsam Tree.” Syn. kadaura (Kano, Zaria, &c.), q.v. Both names are equally well known; sometimes loosely included under the name ḳaro, q.v. ḳaron maje (in Sokoto sometimes also called ḳaron darma) = the exuded balsam or oleo-resin, a variety of West Afr. copal, used as scent to fumigate clothing, to impart a gloss to beaten dyed cloth, &c.

majigi, Baphia pubescens, Hook. fil. (Leguminosæ). Camwood, a tree the wood of which is used as a red dye and cosmetic. (Also probably B. nitida, Afzel. in the south). cf. madobia.

majimfa or magiumfa (or jimfa), Tephrosia Vogelii, Hook. fil. (Leguminosæ); an erect shrub cultivated near houses; the leaves are much used as a poison to stupefy fish. baina (Kano) = the fish-poison prepared from it. cf. ago.

majiriya (Sok. and Kats.), or minjiriya (Kano, &c.), Erythrina senegalensis, DC. (Leguminosæ). “Coral Tree;” a prickly tree with brilliant scarlet flowers and 3-foliate leaves. The scarlet seeds are sometimes called idon zakara, q.v.

majiriyar kurumi (Kano), Phyllanthus floribundus, Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceæ); a thorny scrambling shrub with small red berries. (The term ḳumchi, Sok. and Zanf. is sometimes applied to this, and more widely to any thorny thicket; cf. gumbi and dufuwa).

maka = dried bean leaves; vide under wake.

makafo, makafo da wayo, a var. of dawa, q.v.

maḳaimi, vide tsuwawun zaki.

maḳarfo, Afrormosia laxiflora, Harms. (Leguminosæ); a hard-wooded tree with smooth bark and shining foliage; the wood is used for axe-handles, &c.; the bark and root are used medicinally. (Etym. probably ḳarifi—from the hardness of the wood). Sometimes also called kariye gatari (“break axe”). cf. baḳin maḳarfo, vide kurḍi.

makari, Digitaria sp.? A grass cultivated in some districts with a small grain like acha, q.v.

makarin dafi = any antidote to arrow-poison, usually vegetable substances containing tannin. cf. bi ta ka tsira.

makarin faḳo, Panicum falciferum, Trin. (Gramineæ). A wild grass 1½ to 2 feet high, with golden hairy flowering spike; seeds edible, sometimes gathered for food.

makasar dawa and makasha, vide ḳuduji.

makuba, vide under ḍorowa.

makubar mahalba, vide under kirni.

maḳworin maḳwododo, vide ḳwododon kwaḍo.

malafiya (or marafiya), Corchorus olitorius, L. (Tiliaceæ). “Jews’ Mallow.” One of the jute plants, cultivated in N. Nigeria more as a vegetable than for fibre. (Arab. molukhiya).

malami or malami na mata, Mukia scabrella, Arn. (Cucurbitaceæ); a small twiner with rough leaves and red berries resembling Bryony. (Etym. from its frequent use as a love-charm). Syn. gautan zomo.

malamkochi, vide zaḳi banza.

malga or marga, vide gamma faḍa.

malle, m. kabi, m. mama, m. Zanfara; varieties of dawa, q.v.

malmo, Eugenia owariensis, Beauv. (Myrtaceæ); an evergreen tree with fragrant flowers and leaves, and black or purple berries; common by streams and pools.

mangoro, the name given to the mango, Mangifera indica, Linn. (Anacardiaceæ).

manta uwa, 1. A medicine given to a child at weaning, or to prevent a slave running away (etym. “forget mother”); the name is applied to several plants; (in Katagum the species was Crotalaria arenaria, R. Br. Leguminosæ, a low weed with small yellow flowers and inflated pods). 2. A name for some epiphytic orchids, e.g. Ansellia congoensis, Rodiges, &c. (etym. because growing on trees away from the ground). vide muruchin bissa.

marafiya, vide malafiya.

maraguwa, vide ḳini.

marasiri, vide under riḍi.

marga or malga, vide gamma faḍa.

mariḳe, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Guill. et Perr. (Combretaceæ). A tree with small pale leaves and balls of whitish flowers; a good timber; it yields a soluble gum; the fruit is used as a vermifuge for horses, &c. “Chew-stick Tree.” ḍan marike (Katagum, &c.), Indigofera secundiflora, Poir. (Leguminosæ). A weed or low undershrub with pale pinnate leaves covered with a gummy glandular secretion.

marin kusu, Pupalia lappacea, Juss. (Amaranthaceæ); a straggling spiny weed of waste places, resembling ḳaimin ḳadangare, q.v. (Etym. “mouse’s irons”).

marmare, a var. of dawa, q.v.

marsa, a var. of kola nut; vide under goro.

masaki, a large calabash; vide under duma.

masakowa or mazakwa, a dry-season var. of Guinea-Corn; vide under dawa.

masara, Zea Mays, Linn. (Gramineæ). Maize. Indian Corn. Varieties are:—m. wada, a dwarf variety; m. Fulani; m. kwona, tall with about 3 corn cobs with large white grain; kain masara or maburkaki = the terminal male inflorescence; goyon masara = the lateral fruiting spike or mealie cob; toton masara (Sok.), or kututu (Kano and East) = the cob after removal of seeds, used to make pipe-stems.

mashayi, Clerodendron capitatum, Sch. and Thonn. (Verbenaceæ). A shrub with bunches of tubular white flowers and purple berries; the pithy branches are used for pipe-stems. Etym. instrument used for smoking; cf. syn. tataba (Sok.).

mashin zomo, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. (Filices). “Adder’s tongue fern,” a small fern with simple leaf and erect fruiting spike. (Etym. “hare’s spear”).

masoro, “West Afr. Black Pepper,” “Benin Pepper;” small dried berries sold for spice and medicinal use; the fruit of Piper Clusii, Cas. DC. (?P. guineense, Piperaceæ); a climbing plant on trees in the South.

masun ḳadangare, vide tsatsarar ḅera.

matakashi, a plant resembling sesame (vide riḍi); used for soup.

matsagi or matsatsagi, vide jirga.

matsarmama, Physalis angulata, L. and P. minima, L. (Solanaceæ); common weeds of waste places with inflated calyx enclosing a small berry; (related to the Cape Gooseberry, P. peruviana); used medicinally. Etym. matsarmama = gall-bladder; also called mai-lalita—lalita = a small leather pouch. Syn. ?domashin maza (Katag.).

maye, vide under shiwaka.

mazakwa, a dry-season var. of Guinea Corn; vide under dawa.

mazarin kyanwa, an insect-gall on the grass katsaimu, q.v.

meḍi, a fibre from the root-bark of the shrub ḍunḍu, q.v. and from other acacias, root of the “dum” palm &c. cf. yawa, and vide ḍakwora, goriba, &c. Used for network bags, &c., mending calabashes, &c.

mijin kaḍai, vide under kaḍanya.

mijin goro, vide under goro.

minjiriya, vide majiriya.

minu, the smallest kola nuts, vide under goro.

miya tsanya (Sok. and Kats.), Sida rhombifolia, L. (Malvaceæ); an undershrub or perennial weed with small yellow flowers and a fibrous bark. (Etym. “grasshoppers’ greens”). It is one of the plants included in kaskaifi, q.v.

moda, Sansevieria sp. (Liliaceæ). “African Bowstring Hemp;” a stemless plant with long straight mottled leaves affording a useful fibre; root and leaf used medicinally.

murli = the unexpanded fronds of any palm (kwakwa, giginya, goriba, tukuruwa). shedari = a mat made from murlin giginya.

murtsunguwa, a long-leaved stemless plant, sometimes added to arrow-poison. Syn. ?gunguma.

muruchi, the young germinating shoots of the Fan Palm, vide giginya, used as a vegetable.

muruchin bisa or m. sama, a name for several species of orchid, growing as epiphytes on trees,—Ansellia congoensis and other spp. vide manta uwa.

muruchin daji, a name for some ground orchids with long straight leaves; usually Habenaria spp. growing in wet places.

muruchin jibba or m. jibji, a species of fungus; vide under tumukun suri.

muruchin makaruwa, Curculigo gallabatensis, Schweinf. (Amaryllideæ). A stemless plant with straight grass-like leaves, yellow flowers, and a thickened root-stock; syn. doyar kurege.

N

naman kaza (naman angulu, &c.), Agaricus campestris, the edible mushroom. (Etym. from the pale fleshy appearance of the cut surface, but sometimes also called naman ḳassa).

nanafo, Celosia trigyna, Linn. (Amaranthaceæ). An erect weed with white scarious flowers. Used as a medicine for tapeworm, &c.

nanare (Sok.), vide under shinkafa.

nanake, Aspilia Kotschyi, Benth. and Hook. (Compositæ). A plant in the bush with rough foliage and deep purple flowers.

nata, vide under goro.

nobe, Cymbopogon sennariensis, var. proximus, Stapf (Gramineæ). A fragrant grass, 2 to 3 feet high, with very narrow leaves; much used for thatch. cf. tsabre.

nome (Sok., &c.), Sesamum indicum, Linn. Sesame or Beni seed; vide riḍi.

nonon ḅariya, Lactuca taraxacifolia, Sch. and Thonn. (Compositæ). A field weed with pale yellow flowers and milky juice. (ḅariya = a species of gazelle).

nonon giwa, vide rahaina.

nonon gwanki, Ficus sp. A tree of the fig tribe with milky juice.

nonon kura, Cucumis metuliferus, E. Mey. (Cucurbitaceæ). A climber with a cucumber-shaped fruit covered with large spines, scarlet when ripe. Also called buran zaki.

nonon kurchiya, Euphorbia hirta, Linn. (= E. pilulifera, &c.), a prostrate weed with clusters of small inconspicuous flowers and milky juice; used medicinally. (Allied species are included, e.g. E. convolvuloides, Hochst. &c.)

nunu (Sok. and Kano), the fruit of the tree danya, q.v.

P

parpatsi or farfatsi, vide dandana.

pasa daga, vide fasa daga.

pasa ḳabba, vide fasa ḳabba.

pasa ḳwari, vide fasa ḳwari.

piyaka or fiyaka, vide jibda ḳassa.

punkaso, vide under alkama.

R

Raḅa, Cyanotis lanata, Benth. (Commelynaceæ); a somewhat succulent herb growing amongst grass, which is said to cause eczema of horses’ muzzles. (Etym. from raḅa = dew, which is supposed to have a similar effect).

rahaina, Kigelia æthiopica, Decne, var. bornuensis, Sprague (Bignoniaceæ). “Sausage-tree.” A large shade tree with pendulous lurid purple flowers, and huge cucumber-shaped fruit. Syn. rawuya (Sok.), and nonon giwa.

rai ḍore, Cassia occidentalis, Linn. (Leguminosæ). An erect shrubby plant with pinnate leaves and yellow flowers, of the senna tribe; used medicinally for fevers, &c. (Etym. from attributed restorative powers). Syn. sanga sanga (Sok. and West), and Ba-Zanfare (Katagum and East).

rake (Kano, &c.), (Saccharum officinarum), Linn. (Gramineæ). One of the species of sugar-cane, grown near streams; arakke (Sok.). Called also karan sariki. cf. takanḍa.

raken giwa (or takanḍar giwa), Peucedanum sp. (Umbelliferæ); a shrub with pinnate leaves and fragrant sap; used as a scented fumigation for clothing. cf. takanḍar giwa.

rama, Hibiscus cannabinus, Linn. (Malvaceæ), and perhaps H. lunariifolius, Willd. “Bastard Jute,” “Indian Hemp.” A tall straight annual grown for its bark fibre from which cordage is made; leaves acid, used in soup. Black, white and red varieties are recognized according to the tint of the bark—jar rama, farar rama; ḳare aiki (Sok.), with black and red varieties (etym. because considered the last agricultural labour of the season); or koka rani (Katsina), and dirin da rani (Kano), jirin da rani (Bauchi), ganwon rama = coil of rama bark or fibre. ḍinkin rama = leaves of rama used for soup; vide under ḍinya. ḳeḳasheshe or tsiyayi = peeled stems of rama, used in medicine in occult practice and as a sooty application when burnt applied for mural decoration. ramar rafi, &c. wild varieties of the same botanical species; vide ḳarama mowa. ramar kurumi, vide kwankwarimi; rama rama, vide ramaniya.

ramaniya (Sok. Kats., &c.), Urena lobata, Linn. (Malvaceæ). A hard erect shrub, 2 to 3 feet high with pink flowers; the bark yields a strong fibre. Syn. rama rama, or ka fi rama; (baḳin garamani and jan tsu, vide under garamani and tsu). cf. also uwar maganni.

ramno (Sok.), or rauno (Kano), chopped grass mixed with building clay to act as mortar. cf. jan raumo.

rapasa, vide under ḳurar shanu.

rariyar ḳassa (Kontagora), Chrysanthellum procumbens, Pers. (Compositæ); a small wayside weed with yellow flowers.

rauma fada, vide roma fada.

rawaya, Cochlospermum tinctorium, Rich. (Bixaceæ); a common shrub with yellow rose-like flowers and a yellow root used as a dye and in cooking. Syn. zunzuna.

rawuya, vide rahaina.

riḍi, or liḍi, Sesamum indicum, Linn. (Pedaliaceæ). Sesame, Gingelly, Beni Seed. Simsim (Arab.). An annual with white or red flowers, cultivated for its oily seeds; leaves and seeds used as food. Syn. nome, cf. karkashi. marasiri (Ful. West) = sesamum porridge. samsam or samsamum (Arab. simsim), an extract probably of sesame, used as an eye medicine.

riḍin barewa or nomen barewa, Sesamum alatum, Thonn. (Pedaliaceæ). A wild species with divided leaves and beaked pods; not eaten.

riḍin kada, vide ḍeiḍoyar kare.

riḍin tuji, Fimbristylis exilis, R. and S. (Cyperaceæ). A small sedge; vide gemen kusu.

rigyar biri, vide tsuwawun biri.

rigya kafi (Sok.), a native prescription and reputed remedy for syphilis composed of the plants damaigi, fara biya rana, fasa ḳabba and ḳuru ḳuru, q.v.

rimani = the fruit of the pomegranate, Punica Granatum, L. cf. ruman, the flowers of the same.

rimi (Kano, &c.) or rini (Sok.), Eriodendron orientale, Steud. (Malvaceæ). White Silk Cotton Tree. The silky floss around the seeds forms the upholstery material called “Kapok;” rimin Masar, a variety without thorns on the branches when young, and with a superior cotton.

rimin agwada, Sopubia simplex, Hochst. and other spp. (Scrophularineæ). An erect herb in the bush with narrow leaves and pink flowers. (agwada = Rock dassie, Procavia sp.).

rimin samari, Oldenlandia grandiflora, Hiern. (Rubiaceæ). A common slender-branched herb of fields and waste places, with bright red 4-partite flowers. Also O. senegalensis, Hiern. a similar plant with smaller less conspicuous flowers. Used as a love-potion or charm for popularity.

rimni (Sok.), Salix sp. (Salicaceæ). A common species of willow on river-banks. Syn. ba ruwana, q.v.

risga, a cultivated plant with an edible tuber. Plectranthus sp. (Labiatæ); like the “Kaffir Potato,” P. esculentus, N.E. Br.

risgar kurege, Asclepias lineolata, Schl. (Asclepiadeæ). A shrub with milky juice and umbels of purple flowers; the spindle-shaped root tubers are used medicinally.

roba, Panicum pyramidale, Lam. (Gramineæ). A tall grass of marshy places; (probably applied to several grasses).

rogo, Manihot palmata, Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceæ). Sweet Cassava or Manioc; and Manihot utilissima, Pohl. Bitter Cassava. The former or non-poisonous species is the one chiefly cultivated in Nigeria, cf. ḳarasa. rogon sabara or r. magariya (Sok.) are terms used for Cassava grown in arid areas (sabara and magariya, q.v. being shrubs of dry scrub districts).

rogon biri, vide ḳosain rogo.

rogon daji, a species of vine with thickened roots; vide tsibiri kinkini; (also applied to other twiners with thickened roots, e.g. a wild species of yam, Dioscorea sp., a species of Clematis, &c.).

rojiya or lojiya, a perennial herb (Asclepiadeæ), with long narrow leaves milky juice and an edible succulent tuberous root-stock. rojiyar mahalba, Xysmalobium Heudelotianum, Decne (Asclepiadeæ); a somewhat similar plant with milky juice, short leaves, lateral umbels of small flowers, and a harder tuberous root edible when cooked. (The names bauje, saniya and daiyo, probably refer to the same or allied Asclepiad plants or “Milkweeds,” with tuberous roots, e.g. Schizoglossum Petherickianum, Oliv. which has short broad leaves and umbels of white flowers).

roko, a var. of bean; vide under wake.

rubiya or lubiya = the edible figs of several species of Ficus:—ḅaure, cheḍiya, durumi, gamji, q.v. (The name is sometimes extended to include other fruits of similar shape, &c. e.g. dates, the grapes of dafara, q.v., &c.).

ruguguwa, vide under kabewa.

ruḳuḅu, vide zaḳi banza.

roma fada or rauma fada, Scoparia dulcis, L. (Scrophularineæ). “Sweet Broom Weed.” A common herb with small white flowers. (Etym. from use as a charm to ensure “court favour;” roma = rakiya, to act as companion or sponsor). namijin roma fada, Heliotropium zeylanicum, Lam. (Boragineæ); a weed used medicinally; vide under Gwanja kusa; (probably applied to several plants with some resemblance to roma fada).

ruman = flowers of pomegranate; vide rimani; (ruman, the Indian name).

rumana, Gladiolus spicatus, Klatt. G. quartinianus, A. Rich. G. unguiculatus, Baker, and other species (Irideæ). Common gladioli with edible corms.

rumaya, a slender grass with tough stems, used for cordage, tying thatch, &c.

rumfar gada, Cassytha guineensis, Sch. et Thon. (Lauraceæ), a parasitic leafless and rootless twiner like dodder, with wiry stems and small clusters of white flowers and berries. Syn. ?siliyar sulkuwa.

runhu or rumfu, Cassia goratensis, Fres. (Leguminosæ); a small tree with yellow flowers; an infusion of the leaves and pods is used as a wash in parturition, and for fever. cf. rai ḍore.