Kordofan Prov. (Rahad); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
P. barbatum Linn.
Hairy perennial. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, up to 6 in. long, subsessile, hairy both sides; ochreæ without limb. Spikes, 2-3 in. long; bracts bristly on margins, per. pink, minute; stamens 6-8; styles 3; nut trigonous.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Darfur Prov. (Kulme & J. Marra: Niurnya 6,500 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
A blue dye, like indigo, is said to be obtained from this plant in China and Japan. The root is used as an astringent and cooling remedy.
P. lanigerum R. Br.
Hoary aquatic herb, 4-5 ft. high. Leaves lanceolate, up to 9 in. long; ochreæ long, membranous, ciliate. Racemes dense, 1-3 in. long; bracts orbicular; per. ⅙ in. long; stamens 6; styles 2; fr. lenticular, black.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Meshra El Rek & Ghabat El Arab, Bongo: Zariba Agad Ngulfala); Mongalla Prov. (Kenissa, Yei River).
P. tomentosum Willd.
Tall aquatic herb, more fulvous than the above; stamens usually 7; bracts truncate, ciliate, otherwise as above.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Kordofan Prov. (Rahad); Upper White Nile Prov. (mouth of Sobat); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Bodumo swamps & Nabambisso River); Bahr El Jebel (Sudd); Mongalla Prov. Yei River).
P. senegalense Meisn.
Perennial, 4-5 ft. high. Leaves distinctly petioled, oblong-lanceolate, narrowed both ends, 2-8 in. long; ochreæ large, truncate, not ciliate. Racemes 2-3 in. long; bracts ovate, not ciliate; per. pale pink, minute; stamens 7; styles 2; nut orbicular, flattened, shining, blackish.
Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 6,500 ft).
P. acuminatum H.B. & K. var. microstemon Mart.
Pubescent herb. Leaves lin.-lanceolate, acuminate, 6 in. long, adpressed hairy on both sides; ochreæ bristly. Spikes dense, 2-3 in. long, 2-4 to a stem; bracts ovate, ciliate; per. pink, minute, 4-5 lobed; style bifid; nut lenticular.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
P. glabrum Willd. TIMSAHIYA (Khartoum)—Arab.
Glabrous marsh herb, 3-4 ft. high. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, up to 8 in. long; ochreæ large, membranous. Spikes dense, 2 in. long; per. pink; stamens 6-8; styles 2; nut lenticular, orbicular.
Nubia; Dongola Prov. (Saikot); Between Khartoum & Shendi; Blue Nile Prov. (Bagras, Dinder River); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, Wadi Gindi 7,300 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Wau in Jur).
An infusion of the leaves is used to relieve pain in case of colic.
91Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.
Very tall herb with perennial root stock; stems hollow, reddish. Leaves triangular or ovate, hastate, up to 8 in. long; petals up to 4 in. long, red; ochreæ membranous, ¾ in. long. Panicle terminal, branched, 1 ft. long; flowers polygamous; per. lobes 6, 3 inner enlarged in fr. to ¼ in.; stamens 6; styles 3, stigmas fimbriate; nut 3-gonous.
Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 6-8,000 ft.).
R. vesicarius Linn.
Branched herb. Leaves deltoid or ovate, 1¼ in. long, cordate, fleshy; petals up to 1½ in. long. Panicles terminal; flowers 1-2 on jointed ped. in the whorls; bracts as long as ped., scarious; per. segm. ⅓ in. diameter in fr., reddish, winged; nut almost 3-winged.
Red Sea Prov. (Littoral); Darfur Prov. (J. Meidob, 4,000 ft.).
R. nepalensis Spreng.
Stout perennial, 3-4 ft. high. Basal leaves long petioled, oblong, rounded or cordate at base, 1 ft. or more long, cauline ovate-oblong, cordate to lanceolate. Panicles long, lax, with reduced leaves below; flowers many in a whorl; pedicels deflexed; inner per. segm. ⅛ in. in fruit, ovate-cordate margined with hooked teeth; nut ovoid-triquetrous.
Darfur Prov. (J. Marra: Guloberi Wadi, 8,000 ft.).
ILLECEBRACEÆ.
92Paronychia argentea Lam.
Densely tufted, pubescent herb, 3-6 in. high. Leaves opposite, lower oblanceolate, mucronate, upper shorter, oblong; stipules and bracts white-scarious, the latter completely hiding the flowers which are in dense terminal clusters; per. very minute, 5-partite lobes hooded at tip.
Dongola Prov. (Khandak).
93Cometes abyssinica R. Br.
Erect perennial, 6-12 in. high, pubescent and much branched. Leaves opposite or verticillate, lanceolate, sessile. Flowers in terminal clusters, bracts enlarged in fruit, silky, long, whitish, forming globose, somewhat rotate heads about 1 in. diameter; per. ⅙ in. long, green.
Red Sea Prov. (Soturba, Khor Tamanib, Khor Ashat, Has Has, Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 6,500 ft. and over).
PHYTOLACCACEÆ.
94Mohlana nemoralis Mart.
Erect annual, 3-4 ft. high. Leaves alternate, oblong, acute or acuminate, up to 6 in. long. Racemes moderately dense, 2-5 in. long; perianth small, dark green, obliquely campanulate, veined in fr., segments 4, unequal, lowest largest; stamens 4; anthers versatile sagittate; fr. fleshy, lenticular.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Naporruporru).
95Phytolacca octandra Linn.
Erect perennial, 2-3 ft. high; stems stout. Leaves alternate, oblong, 3-4 in. long. Racemes very dense; per. green, 5-partite; stamens about 8; fr. globose, purple-black.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
CHENOPODIACEÆ.
96Chenopodium album Linn. FISS EL KELAB—Arab.
Erect herb, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate, 1-1½ in. long, coarse-dentate, mealy. Panicles axillary; per. lobes 5, triangular, incurved; stamens 5, filam. short; styles 2, seed globose, black-brown.
Kordofan Prov.
The plant is eaten as a pot-herb. It is also said to have laxative properties.
C. murale Linn.
Erect herb, mealy all over. Leaves ovate, obscurely 3-lobed, coarsely serrate, 1-4 in. long. Panicles terminal and axillary, more spreading than in above. Flowers as above.
Red Sea Prov. (Suakin, 21° N. Lat.); Berber Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 6,500 ft.).
It is eaten as a pot-herb.
C. Schraderianum Roem. & Schult.
Herb, 2-5 ft. high. Leaves pinnatifid, 1-4 in. long, covered with stalked and sessile yellow glands. Panicle much branched and in zigzags; per. segments 5; triangular, keeled, with stalked glands.
Darfur Prov. (J. Marra, 6,500 ft.).
97Atriplex farinosa Forsk.
Undershrub, 3 ft. high. Leaves alternate, lanceolate-oblong, 1½ in. long, short petioled, some cordate or auricled, densely white-tomentose beneath. Flowers unisexual, in terminal spikes or panicles, male flower per. 5-lobed; stamens 3-5; female flower enclosed in 2 orbicular, tomentose bracts, 1/5 in. diameter in fr., per. 0, styles 2-branched.
Red Sea Prov. (Littoral).
98Kochia cana Boiss.
Undershrub; branchlets white, obscurely silky. Leaves alternate, oblong, 1/5 in. long, hairy. Infl. subglobose, embedded in long brown hairs, axillary or terminal, 2-sexual or female; per. lobes 5, incurved and enlarged in fr.; stamens 5; styles 2-3.
Red Sea Prov. (Littoral).
99Halopeplis perfoliata Schweinf.
Woody, branched undershrub, 1-2 ft. high, nodes approximate. Leaves alternate, very small, sessile, decurrent, glabrous. Spikes small, dense; per. 3-toothed; stamens 1-2.
Red Sea Prov. (Littoral).
100Arthrocnemum fruticosum Moq.
Undershrub, branches short-jointed. Leaves 0. Flowers 2-sexual, very small, partially sunk in cylindric, dense spikes 1½-2½ in. long; per. 3-4 lobed; stamens 1-2.
Red Sea Prov. (Saline marshes, Er-Rih Island).
101Salsola fœtida Del. DEBERRAH (Nubia) & MULLEY (Egypt)—Arab.
Evil-smelling undershrub, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves alternate, orbicular, minute, fleshy, imbricate; bracteoles similar. Flowers in short, dense axillary spikes; per. 5-partite, segments in fr. winged, scarious; stamens 5; style 2-branched.
Wadi Halfa (on sandstone); Berber Prov. (Obeish); Between Berber & Khartoum; Red Sea Prov. (Suakin & 21° N. Lat.).
S. vermiculata Linn.
Pubescent undershrub. Leaves alternate or fascicled, ovate, up to ⅓ in. long, keeled at base. Flowers in dense spikes, as above.
Nubia (banks of the Nile, near Tingur).
102Suæda fruticosa Forsk. ADLIB—Arab.
Glabrous undershrub, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves alternate, scattered, linear, fleshy, ¼-⅔ in. long. Flowers minute, axillary, solitary or clustered; per. urn-shaped in bud; lobes 5; stamens 5; style short, 3-armed.
Red Sea Prov. (Suakin, 21° N. Lat & Littoral).
S. monoica Forsk.
Similar to above; upper leaves larger; flowers larger and mostly 1-sexual.
Between Suakin & Berber (Khor Langeb); Kordofan Prov. (Maties).
S. Volkensii C. B. Clarke.
Succulent undershrub. Leaves oblong, up to ⅓ in. long. Flowers clustered on nearly continuous spikes. Per. larger than in S. fruticosa, pentagonal, swollen in fruit.
Red Sea Prov. (saline soils on sea-coast).
S. vermiculata Forsk.
Spreading, white tomentose undershrub. Leaves ovate, sub-globose, up to ⅙ in. long, mealy and glandular, tubercled at base. Flowers in dense spikes; bracts spirally inserted, white-margined; filaments exserted.
Red Sea Prov.
S. vermiculata Forsk. var. puberula C. B. Clarke.
Leaves linear, up to ⅓ in. long without tubercle.
Red Sea Prov. (Coast).
103Cornulaca monacantha Del.
Much branched, rigid undershrub. Leaves alternate lanceolate, up to ¼ in. long, curved, ending in a spine, which drops off when old and the base becomes a cushion. Flowers clustered, buried in wool, polygamous; per. segments 5, 1 or more spinescent in fruit.
Dongola Prov.
C. Ehrenbergii Aschers.
Leaves densely imbricated, mucronate; flowers solitary, not buried in wool, axillary, otherwise as above.
Red Sea Prov. (Coast).
AMARANTACEÆ.
104Celosia argentea Linn. DANAB EL KELB (H. Abbas), & SHEIBA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab.
Branched herb, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves alternate, linear to spathulate-elliptic, 1-5 in. long; petals 1-2 in. long. Spikes dense, scarious, silvery-white, pink or straw-coloured, up to 6 in. long; per. ⅓ in. long, 5-fid; stamens 5, filaments united at base; style 3-branched.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); South of Khartoum; Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov.; Sobat River (Nasser).
The seeds are a remedy for diarrhœa. The plant is sometimes eaten as a pot-herb; it is also said to yield a strong fibre.
C. laxa Schumach. & Thonn.
Branched herb, 2-4 ft. high. Leaves long-petioled below, ovate to lanceolate, up to 3 in. long. Infl. much looser than in above, 2-4 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land by Nabambisso River).
C. trigyna Linn. BAMBIT (Kordn.), EL BUEIDA (Blue Nile)—Arab.
Straggling herb, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves long-petioled below, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, 1-5 in. long. Infl. varying from linear panicles, 4-6 in. long, interrupted, to simple spikes or globular spicate heads, 1 in. in diameter, pink to silvery-white; per. ⅛ in. long; style 3-branched.
Between Korosko & Berber; Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit & Karora); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); White Nile Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Zalingei); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Niamniam-land); Mongalla Prov. (Lado: Yei River: Kagula).
The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
C. Schweinfurthiana Schinz.
Scrambling herb, 4-5 ft. long. Leaves long-petioled, ovate-lanceolate, 3 in. long. Panicles linear, up to 10 in. long, or elongate, interrupted spikes; per. 1/10 in. long; style bifid.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).
C. populifolia Moquin.
Straggling undershrub, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves petioled, ovate-lanceolate, base rounded, 3 in. long. Panicles linear, thyrsoid, 4-7 in. long; per. 1/10 in. long, scarious white with dark lines; style bifid. Caps. 1-seeded.
Kassala Prov. (Goz Regeb); Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov.; Kordofan Prov. (Bareis); Darfur Prov.
105Digera arvensis Forsk. HARAYRAH, NUARAH, BEBIT or LABLAB AHMAR (Blue Nile Prov.), & ASFAR (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; AMMĀL (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka; KILUTUM (Meshra El Zeraf)—Shilluk.
Branched herb, 8-20 in. high. Leaves alternate, lanceolate or ovate, 2 in. long. Spikes axillary 2-7, somewhat interrupted, pink; per. 4-5-fid, ⅙ in. long; stamens 5, not united at base: style 2-fid; caps. 1-seeded.
Widely distributed: Nubia (between Suakin & Berber, Wadi Abu Salem); Kassala Prov.: Berber Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov.; White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Ghabat El Arab).
It is eaten as a pot-herb, also as fodder. The leaves are used to cure indigestion.
106Amarantus caudatus Linn. ORF ED DIK—Arab.
Erect herb, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves alternate, long-petioled, narrow-elliptic, 2-12 in. long. Spikes red, linear numerous, mostly in terminal panicles; bracts numerous, longer than flowers; per. 1/10 in. long, 5-fid; style 3-fid, long.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post & Roseires); Kordofan Prov. (Sigei).
Cultivated for its seed, which is edible. The plant is also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The garden variety is known as “Love-lies-bleeding.”
A. tricolor Linn.
Herb, 1-5 ft. high. Leaves spathulate-ovate, acuminate, up to 4 in. long; pet. 1-2½ in. long. Spikes axillary and in terminal panicles; per. 1/10 in. long, 3-fid; bracts long-awned, longer than flowers; style 3-branched.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).
A. oleraceus Linn.
Herb; a weed in cultivation. Leaves ovate-elliptic, 2 in. long, long-petioled. Spikes axillary and terminal, dense; per. very minute, segments 3.
Khartoum Prov.
A. græcizans Linn. FISS EL KELB, & LISĀN EL TEIR—Arab.
A weed in cultivation. Leaves elliptic, 1-2 in. long, long-petioled. Spikes globose, axillary and terminal; per. segments 3, minute, tailed.
Khartoum, Kassala & Kordofan Provinces.
A. Blitum Linn. LISĀN EL TEIR (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
A weed in cultivation, 15 in. high. Leaves narrow-oblong to obovate ½-1½ in. long including pet. Spikes copious, axillary; flowers still smaller than above.
Red Sea Prov. (Suakin); Khartoum, Blue Nile, White Nile, Kordofan & Bahr El Ghazal Provinces.
A. polygamus Linn.
A weed, up to 2 ft. high. Leaves ovate-elliptic, 2 in. long; pet. often very long. Spikes axillary; flowers as above.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.
107Aerva tomentosa Forsk. GHUBEISH (Nomads, Kordn.), SHEIBA (N. Kordn.), LERU or (EL) ARA or LARA—Arab; EIGAB—Hadendowa.
Undershrub, 2-4 ft. high, with dense white stellate hairs. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, 4 in. long. Flowers in spiked terminal, leafless, dense panicles, 2 in. long; per. 5-fid, ⅛ in. long, hairy; bracts hairy; stamens 5; filaments united in a tube with alternating staminodes, style 2-branched; caps. 1-seeded.
Widely distributed. Red Sea Prov.; Dongola Prov. (Khandak); Berber Prov. (Saggadi, Wadi Omari); Khartoum, Blue Nile, Kordofan & Darfur Provinces.
The woolly spikes are used for stuffing pillows and donkey saddles. The roots are used as tooth-brushes. It is used medicinally for horses and camels.
var. β. Bovel Webb.
More tawny than type. Leaves oblong or obovate, 1 in. long. Flowers smaller; spikes more slender and interrupted.
Red Sea Prov. (between Suakin & Berber); Dongola Prov. (Debba): Kordofan Prov.
A. Ruspolii Lopr.
Bushy, tawny-woolly herb. Leaves oblong and obovate, ½ in. long, recurved. Spikes small and interrupted.
Berber Prov. (17° 30′ Lat. N.).
A. lanata Juss.
Woolly herb, 1-4 ft. high. Leaves ovate, 1½ in. long. Spikes axillary and terminal, ¼-½ in. long; flowers small, densely white-woolly; bracts glabrous-pointed.
Red Sea Prov. (Soturba, sea-coast, Erkowit); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Nabambisso River: Niamniam-land).
var. β. oblongata Aschers.
Leaves thick, very woolly. Spikes in a dense, narrow panicle, 1 ft. long.
Red. Sea Prov. (Soturba).
A. brachiata Mart.
More glabrate than A. lanata and smaller. Infl. axillary; flowers very minute; stamens 2 only.
White Nile, Kordofan & Darfur Provinces.
108Cyathula prostrata Blume.
Hairy or glabrate herb, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves ovate or obovate, 1-4 in. long. Spikes terminal, 2-6 in. long, ¼ in. wide; bracts with straight and hooked spines; per. segments 5, blunt or spinose, 1/12 in. long; stamens 5, alternating with staminodes.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Kalenjo).
109Pupalia lappacea Juss. LAMRAGA—Bari.
Hairy herb, 2-4 ft. high. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 2-6 in. long. Infl. in terminal subspicate clusters, 2-4 in. long; flowers about 3 together enclosed by 2 bracts and 4 bracteoles covered with white, woolly hairs and hooked and barbed spines forming very troublesome burrs; stamens 5; filaments connate at base.
Red Sea Prov.; Suakin to Berber (Wadi Omari); Fung Prov. (Roseires, Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol & rocky hills); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: Maiuoli, Jur: Dimo); Bahr El Jebel.
At Rejaf the plant is used medicinally, being burnt and the ashes added to water and drunk for flatulence. It is also said to be used for leprosy; sores are bled and the ashes of the plant, called DIKERI TIMALLO, are rubbed in. Patients eat light food and no meat.
110Psilotrichum cordatum Moquin.
Herb, 2-4 ft. high. Leaves opposite, ovate, 1½ in. long, hairy. Panicles terminal, 1-2 ft. long; spikes ½-1½ in. long, 4-12 flowered, bracteoles 2, shorter than flowers; per. segments 5, ⅛ in. long, green, hairy; stamens 5, filaments joined into a cup at the base.
Red Sea Prov. (Soturba).
P. Schimperi Engl.
Glabrous branched herb, 18 in. high. Leaves lin.-oblong, 2 in. long. Spikes terminal and subaxillary, up to 5 in. long in fruit; per. green.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
111Achyranthes aspera Linn. ABRUKAB (Sennar), DANAB EL ABILANI or FAKHAH or NA’ANA’A (Meshra El Zeraf), ANAWIDIK (Khartoum), ERG EL ASDA & ERG EL DAM (Blue Nile)—Arab; DARATNIUWA—Hadendowa; EILUKWATEN (Dilling)—Nuba.
Straggling or erect woody herb. Leaves opposite, elliptic, 2-3 in. long. Spikes usually simple, 2-18 in. long, occasionally compound and feathery; bracteoles spiny; fr. deflexed, somewhat prickly.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit & Khortratib); from Lat. 15° 30′ southwards.
Root chewed and used as a styptic on cuts.
A. aspera Linn. var. argentea C. B. Clarke.
Leaves silky, strigose beneath with white hairs, often silvery.
Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (near mouth of Bahr El Ghazal); Mongalla Prov. (Kenissa).
A. aquatica R. Br.
Hirsute aquatic herb. Leaves ovate or lanceolate, 3-4 in. long. Spikes 3 in. long; bracteoles small; per. straw-coloured; fr. deflexed as above.
Fung Prov. (Deleib, Khor Agalin, & Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (Abba Island & Kosti); Kordofan Prov.; Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
112Pandiaka cylindrica Hook. f.
Hairy herb. Leaves opposite, subsessile, oblong, 1 in. long. Spikes 1½ in. long, pinkish straw-coloured; bracteoles 2, longer than per., mucronate, white-hairy; per. ¼ in. long, white-hairy; stamens 5, connate at base with quadrate alternating hairy staminodes.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (between Limbo’s & Abu Shakka’s, Jur Majob); Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).
P. Heudelotii Hook. f.
Hairy herb, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves sessile, linear, 2-3 in. long. Spikes 1 in. long, green to straw-coloured; bracteoles ⅙ in. long, pointed; per. 1/5 in. long, hairy; stamens as above, glabrous.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
P. Schweinfurthii C. B. Clarke.
Herb, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves sessile, broad-elliptic or oblanceolate. Spikes 1½ in. long, terminal, straw-coloured; stamens as above, staminodes long-fimbriate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit).
P. oblanceolata C. B. Clarke.
Sparsely hairy herb. Leaves oblanceolate-oblong, 1¾ in. long, sessile. Spikes 2 in. long, pale-brown; bracteoles 1/5 in., bristle-pointed as is the per., which is ⅓ in. long; staminodes lacerate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo, Addai).
113Alternanthera nodiflora R. Br. ABU TUMRA (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
Procumbent hairy herb, 6-24 in. long. Leaves opposite; oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, ½-2½ in. long. Heads axillary, ⅓ in. diameter, white; per. segm. ⅙ in. long; stamens 5, filaments united into a cup with alternate notched teeth.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Kodok).
A. achyranthoides Forsk.
Leaves usually lobed, otherwise as above but per. smaller.
Berber Prov. (Saggadi); Blue Nile Prov. (Wad Medani); White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur, Wau River); Bahr El Jebel.
BASELLACEÆ.
114Basella alba Linn.
Glabrous, much branched, twining herb. Leaves alternate, ovate or cordate, 2-4 in. long, long-petioled, almost leafless in dry season. Flowers 2-sexual, in axillary spikes with 2 fleshy bractlets adnate to per.; per. fleshy, shortly 5-lobed; stamens 5; styles 3. Fr. globose, enclosed in enlarged per., 1/5 in. diameter, red, white or black.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by Nabambisso River).
Cultivated as a Spinach.
LINACEÆ.
115Linum strictum Linn.
Erect herb. Leaves linear, scabrid. Flowers yellow, small, in cymose corymbs. Capsule splitting into 5 2-seeded valves or into 10 1-seeded valves.
Red Sea Prov.
116Hugonia platysepala Welw.
Shrub, 6-9 ft. high. Leaves alternate, shining above, broadly oblanceolate to obovate oblong, acute or cuspidate. Flowers in few flowered racemes, yellow, over 1 in. across; outer sepals with revolute margins; stamens monadelphous. Fruit globose, orange-coloured, ½ in. diameter.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: by the Yuru River).
ZYGOPHYLLACEÆ.
117Tribulus terrestris Linn. DREISA or DEREISA, GATHA (Egypt)—Arab; KÜRWAI—Nuer.
Prostrate plant with opposite pari-pinnate leaves; fruit of 5 woody cocci, each with 2 pairs of stiff spines. Flowers solitary yellow. Sepals and petals 5 each, stamens 10, distinct.
In most parts of the Sudan.
The whole plant, especially the fruit, used medicinally as a diuretic. The leaves are occasionally eaten.
T. mollis Ehrb.
Like T. terrestris, but flowers very small, fruits densely pilose and with wings rather than horns at the base.
Red Sea Prov. (21° N.L.); Khartoum Prov.
T. alatus Del. GATHA (Egypt), DREYS—Arab; SHEISHIG—Hadendowa; GUTAB—Rashida.
Prostrate herb; fruit spinosely and broadly winged, otherwise much like T. terrestris.
Red Sea Prov. (Dongonab, etc.); Berber Prov.; Kassala Prov. (Um Adam).
T. pterocarpus Ehrenb.
Prostrate herb; fruit roundish winged, otherwise like T. terrestris.
Dongola Prov.; Between Suakin & Berber (Obak).
T. cistoides Linn.
Like T. terrestris, but stigmatic lobes not longer than diameter of style.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
T. Ehrenbergii Asch.
Densely villous herb; wings of fruit toothed.
Dongola Prov.
118Zygophyllum simplex Linn.
Prostrate, succulent, much branched herb. Leaves opposite, 1-fol., unequal, fleshy. Flowers yellow, small, on short peduncles. Fruit deeply 5-lobed, small.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (21° N. Lat., and Akik); Between Khartoum & Sabil; White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol).
Camel fodder.
Z. album Linn.
Hoary shrub; fruit deeply 5-lobed, obcordate. Leaves diphyllous, fleshy.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov.
Z. coccineum Linn.
Glabrous shrub; fruit 5-lobed. Leaves diphyllous, fleshy.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Soturba hills).
Z. decumbens Del.
Glabrous herb or undershrub. Leaves diphyllous, fleshy. Flowers numerous; staminal scales deeply 2-fid. Fruit deeply 5-lobed, turbinate.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Soturba).
119Fagonia cretica Linn. ABU-SHOKA, ABU-SHWEIKA & SHOLIB—Arab; OSAR—Hadendowa.
Bushy, spinose, shrubby herb. Leaves opposite, 1-5 fol., nearly sessile. Flowers solitary, usually purple or lilac. Fruit pyramidal, deeply 5-lobed.
Red Sea Prov.; Kassala Prov. (between Goz Regeb & Bir Tussun); Dongola Prov.; Berber Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov.; Kordofan (Taiara & Obeid); Darfur Prov. (Plains 40-80 miles N.E. of El Fasher).
Used in native medicines for tumours, ulcers, etc.
var. parviflora Boiss.
Leaves 1-fol.; leaflets linear-lanceolate. Spines exceeding the leaves.
Nubia (Otao).
120Seetzenia africana R. Br.
Prostrate herb, woody below. Leaves opposite, 3-fol., with interpetiolar stipules, fleshy. Flowers small, axillary, solitary. Fruit of 5 1-seeded cocci, separating longitudinally, sub-globose.
Dongola Prov. (J. Barkal).
GERANIACEÆ.
121Monsonia senegalensis Guill. EL GURUN (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
Diffuse shrubby herb with ovate-cordate leaves. Flowers purple on 1-flowered peduncles. Fruit beaked, beak 3 in. long. Stamens 15.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); White Nile Prov. (Jebelein & J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov.
M. nivea Webb.
Small white pubescent herb with ovate-lanceolate (not cordate) leaves. Fruit beak 1½ in. long.
Red Sea Prov. (Dongonab).
122Geranium favosum Hochst.
Annual, up to 4 ft. high; branches glandular, pilose above.
Leaves deeply 5-lobed, segments pinnatifid. Peduncles 2-flowered; stamens 10. Carpels transversely deeply pitted, with or without tails. Fruit beaked.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit & 21° N.L., etc.).
123Erodium malachoides Willd. KORĪAB—Hadendowa.
Stemless herb with decumbent branches, pubescent. Radical leaves, ovate-cordate, more or less 3-5-lobed, crenate. Fruit beak up to 2½ in. long.
Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit & 21° N.L.); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra: 9,000 ft.)
OXALIDACEÆ.
124Oxalis caprina Linn.
Tuberous stemless herb. Leaves 3-fol. with obcordate leaflets; leaf stalks up to 6 in. long. Flowers purplish in 3-8 flowered umbels on long peduncles.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit).
O. corniculata Linn.
Perennial herb with long creeping or underground stems. Leaves trifoliolate. Flowers yellow, 1-3 in umbels on axillary peduncles exceeding the leaves.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by the Nabambisso); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra: Niurnya 7,000 ft.).
125Biophytum Apodiscias Turcz.
Annual; leaves abruptly pinnate, crowded at nodes and ends of stem and branches, sensitive. Flowers, yellow or red, in umbels on axillary peduncles, with numerous setaceous bracts. Styles 5. Fruit a 5-celled capsule.
White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
BALSAMINACEÆ.
126Impatiens niamniamensis Gilg.
Herb 1 ft. high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate deeply crenate, about 6 in. long. Flowers with the upper petal green, the spur dull purple.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: by the Assika River).
I. Irvingii Hook. f.
Succulent herb, 2-4 ft. high. Leaves usually alternate, lanceolate, serrulate, 3-5 in. long. Flowers red, solitary or in pairs, irregular, the spur of calyx much longer than the body of the lip. Capsule short, elastically splitting into 5-valves.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: by the Mbrwole & Yuru Rivers).
LYTHRACEÆ.
127Rotala verticillaris Linn.
Herb, often procumbent. Leaves in whorls of 4-8, narrow linear, truncate or bifid at apex. Flowers sessile, whorled, small.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
R. serpiculoides Welw.
Marsh herb, 1-3 in. high. Leaves opposite, linear, ab. 1 in. long. Flowers 1-4 together; calyx 4 deltoid lobes, reddish; petals rare, reddish; stamens 1-2: capsules 3-valved, reddish.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land).
R. decussata Hiern.
Marsh herb, 1-9 in. high. Leaves decussate, oblong, ½ in. long. Flowers sessile, solitary; calyx 4-lobed; petals 4 or 0; capsule 3-valved.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Mittu-land; between Ngama & Dokuttu).
R. stagnina Hiern.
Erect marsh herb 4 in. high. Leaves opposite, ovate-oblong, 2 in. long. Flowers 4-merous, sessile; petals 0 or caducous; stamens 2; capsules 3-valved.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Gir).
R. tenella Schwfth.
Creeping marsh herb. Leaves sessile, amplexicaul. Flowers minute, white; capsule globose, 4-valved.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas & Bongo-land: Gir).
128Woodfordia floribunda Salisb.
Shrub with spreading branches. Leaves opposite, sometimes in whorls of 3, sessile, ovate-lanceolate, cordate or rounded at base. Flowers in axillary clusters; calyx tubular, scarlet; petals minute.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Nuba Mts. Prov. (Khor Mashisha, near Dilling); Darfur Prov. (Jebel Marra, 5-6,500 ft.).
It exudes a gum said to be like Gum Tragacanth. The flowers are used as a dye. Both flowers and leaves contain tannin.
129Nesæa heptamera Hiern.
Small herb with red heptamerous, minute flowers. Leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, about 1 in. long.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near Pongo River).
N. erecta Guill. & Perr.
Small herb on river banks, up to 10 in. high. Leaves opposite, linear ¾ in. long. Flowers magenta or purple: petals 4-6.
Mongalla Prov. (Bor); Uganda (Nile Province).
N. cordata Hiern.
Riverside herb, up to 9 in. high. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, cordate at base, ½ in. long. Flowers in heads of 5 surrounded by 2 cordate bracts; petals pink.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur. Ghattas & Bongo-land: Gir); Bahr El Jebel (Madi Swamps).
130Ammannia senegalensis Lam. TAMR EL FAR (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab.
Erect, branched herb with 4-winged stem. Flowers axillary, pink, 4-merous. Leaves linear-oblong to lanceolate, auricled, amplexicaul, 2-in. long, opposite.
Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (near Abba Island, J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Jebel (Madi); Darfur Prov. (Zalingei: Wadi Azum).
The plant is used as a blistering agent.
A. baccifera Linn.
Erect herb with 4-angled stem. Leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, 2 in. long. Cymes 3-7. Flowers sub-sessile, axillary; calyx 4-lobed; petals 4 or 0; stamens 4; capsule globular, dehiscing transversely about the middle.
Dongola Prov. (between Dongola & Korti); between Khartoum & Shendi; Khartoum Prov.; White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).
The leaves are used for blistering, but the effect is said to be most painful.
A. salicifolia Monti in Comment.
Marsh herb, 18 in. high, with 4-angled stem. Leaves opposite, lanceolate. Flower small, in dense cymes, whorled, 4-9 in each axil. Capsule 1-celled.
Red Sea Prov. (21° N.L.); between Khartoum & Shendi).
A. urceolata Hiern.
Erect annual with 4-angled stem. Leaves opposite, linear, ½ to 2 in. long. Flowers in dense axillary clusters, 6 in each axil. Capsule 1-celled.
White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol).
131Lawsonia alba Lam. HENNA—Arab.
Glabrous shrub; branches angular, sometimes spinescent. Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, elliptic, ab. 1 in. long. Flowers in long axillary or terminal panicles, small, greenish yellow, smell like mignonette.
Berber Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Sobat River, Tawfikia). Introduced.
The leaves are used to dye the finger nails and the palms of the hands an orange colour. The seeds yield an oil.
PUNICACEÆ.
132Punica granatum Linn. RUMMĀN—Arab. The Pomegranate.
Shrub or small tree with large scarlet flowers. Fruit size of an orange; seeds surrounded by a pink, edible pulp.
Introduced from Asia.
ONAGRACEÆ.
133Jussieua diffusa Forsk.
Procumbent aquatic herb, usually supplied with pale pinkish spindle-shaped floats. Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, narrow at base. Flowers yellow; calyx 5-lobed, enlarged in fruit; pet. 5; stamens 10.
White Nile, Bahr El Ghazal & Mongalla Provinces.
J. pilosa H. B. & K. ARKALA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; LŪNG (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka.
Differs little from J. diffusa Forsk. except by its erect habit and more hirsute young parts.
Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).
J. acuminata Sw.
Stems glabrous. Leaves lanceolate subacute, 3-4 in. long, ½-1 in. broad, glabrous or nearly so, pinnately several nerved. Fruits wrinkled, 1 in. long.
Khartoum Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by the Linduku Stream); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).
J. villosa Lam.
Erect herb, 4 ft. high; stem woody, somewhat winged, hairy above. Leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate, ½ to 5 in. long. Flowers 4-merous, solitary, yellow, sessile, small. Capsule up to 2 in. long.
Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land).
J. villosa Lam. var. linearis Jacq.
Erect, hirsute herb. Leaves narrow linear; fibres of old capsules persistent.
Nuba Mts. Prov. (Kadugli); Mongalla Prov. (Gondokoro).
J. linifolia Vahl. SOFSAF (N. Kordn.) & TOTO—Arab.
Erect herb, 2 ft. or more; stem narrowly winged. Leaves linear-lanceolate 1-3 in. long. Flowers small, yellow, 4-merous, sessile, axillary. Capsule cylindrical, 2/3 in. long.
Khartoum to Berber (banks of the Nile); Atbara; Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Wau).
134Ludwigia jussioides Lam.
Erect herb, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves linear-oval to lanceolate, 1½-4 in. long, alternate. Flowers axillary, yellow, up to 1 in. in diam.; 4-5-merous. Capsules 1 in. long and 1/12 in. diam.
Bahr El Jebel (Madi).
L. parviflora Roxb.
Erect annual, 6-18 in.; stem often angular. Leaves linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, tapering to base, ab. 1½ in. long. Flowers tetramerous, yellow. Capsule under ½ in. long, cylindrical, somewhat inflated, 4-veined.
Kordofan Prov. (Abu Gerad); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Addai).
135Trapa bispinosa Roxb. CHUWALAGEIR (Kenissa)—Dinka. Water Chestnut.
Aquatic herb; stems ascending in water, giving off numerous pectinate roots. Leaves alternate, floating petioles dilated into floats; blades triangular, broadly dentate on upper edges. Fruit ab. 1 in. long, shield-shaped, armed with 2 curved, barbed spines.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Main River); Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).
Although it is not known in the Sudan as edible the fruit is much used in India as an article of food and is eaten raw or cooked.
136Epilobium hirsutum Linn.
Erect herb, hirsute, 2-5 ft. high. Leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, serrulate, amplexicaul, 1-5 in. long. Flowers sessile, axillary, solitary; calyx tube narrow, elongate, 4-lobed; petals 4, pink or purple; stamens 8; stigma 4-lobed. Capsule 2-3 in. long.
Darfur Prov. (J. Marra).
HALORRHAGACEÆ.
137Laurembergia Engleri Schindler.
Low herb in swamps with reddish glabrous stems and alternate linear obtuse leaves scarcely ½ in. long. Flowers minute, sessile, axillary. Fruits muricate.
Bahr El Ghazal (Jur Ghattas).
THYMELÆACEÆ.
138Gnidia Mittuorum Gilg.
Heather-like undershrub, 4-12 in. high; stems 4-angled. Leaves oblong or obl.-obovate, ½-1 in. long. Heads terminal, 7-10 flowered; involucral bracts 3-4, ovate, ¼ in. long. Flowers brownish-yellow; pedicels minute, bearing a tuft of white hairs; calyx under ½ in. long; lobes 4, minute; petals 4 inserted on calyx tube, scale-like; stamens 8, sessile in calyx-tube, in 2 rows.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit: Deim Adlan, Mittu: Deragoh).
G. Schweinfurthii Gilg.
Glabrous herb, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves scattered, lanceolate or oblong, ½-1 in. long. Flowers yellowish-brown in terminal heads of 15-25 fl., or in axillary 1-3 headed racemes; invol. bracts 4-5, ovate; calyx smaller than above.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Sabbi).
G. apiculata Gilg.
Undershrub, 1½-3 ft. high. Leaves alternate, crowded, linear or narrowly elliptic, ½-2/3 in. long. Heads numerous, terminal, peduncled and lateral ones sessile, 10-15 flowered; invol. bracts 7-14 in 2 rows; calyx tube pubescent.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Gumango hills); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).
139Lasiosiphon Kraussii Meisn. BURURU—Golo.
Woody herb, 4-24 in. high. Leaves opposite, elliptic, lanceolate or narrow-ovate, ½-2 in. long. Heads solitary, terminal, many flowered; peduncles 1-4 in., velvety; invol. bracts 6-10, hairy; calyx yellow, hairy below, pubescent above, ½ in. long, 5-lobed; petals minute, scale-like; stamens 10, in 2 rows.
Nuba Mts. Prov. (Heiban); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra 6,000-9,500 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: between Kutshook Ali’s Zariba & the River Wau, between Pongo River & Jur, Dar Fertit, Golo Desert).
The crushed roots are used for poisoning fish. It is also a virulent poison to man and animals.
140Arthrosolen chrysantha Solms-Laub.
Virgate, bushy, or heather-like undershrub, up to 2 ft. high. Leaves scattered, linear, ¾ in. long. Heads terminal, solitary, many-flowered; invol. bracts ovate to linear; pedicel with ring of hairs; calyx tube ½ in. long; lobes 4; petals 0; stamens 8 in 2 rows.
Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit).
141Dicranolepis Schweinfurthii Gilg.
Shrub or small tree. Leaves alternate, oblong or obl.-lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, 2-3 in. long, with yellow-brown hairs beneath. Flowers solitary, sessile, 1 in. long; calyx tube slender, lobes 5, ⅙ in. long; pet. 5, scale-like, forked; stamens 10, in 2 whorls. Drupe oval, ½ in. long.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: River Diagbe at Wando).
D. cerasifera Gilg.
Shrub. Leaves variable, ovate to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 1-2½ in. long, hairy beneath. Flowers 1-2 together, not seen. Drupe smaller than a cherry, reddish.
Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: by Diamwonu River).
NYCTAGINACEÆ.
142Boerhaavia elegans Choisy.
Tall branched herb. Leaves opposite, petioled, broadly ovate, 1½ in. long, whitish beneath. Flowers in lax, terminal, slender panicles, usually solitary, rarely 2-3-nate on the rachis; perianth tube cylindric, lower part persistent 5-angled, viscid ⅙ in. long, enclosing the fruit, upper part petaloid, shortly 5-lobed; stamens 2, exserted, connate at base.
Coast of Nubia.
B. adscendens Willd.
Glabrous herb 2-3 ft. high. Leaves opposite, ovate-oblong or rotundate, up to 2 in. long, pet. 1 in. Panicles terminal, 9 in. long. Flowers umbelled, 4-9 at ends of panicle; perianth minute; fr. under ⅛ in. long.
Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Sobat.
B. repens Linn. RIGLA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; TEB (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka.
Glabrous creeping or scrambling herb. Leaves in unequal pairs at the nodes, ovate or lanceolate, ab. 1 in. long. Peduncles axillary bearing 4-10 flowered umbels; per. minute, 5-ribbed, glandular between the ribs; lobes pinkish; fr. minute; stamens 1-3.
Red Sea Prov. (between Suakin & Berber: Wadi Abu Salem, Suakin, Erkowit, El Galabeheb & Khor Ashat); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Gerad & Bara); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Darfur Prov. (Kulme); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf).
var. diffusa Hook. f. TERBA (N. Kordn.), LADUA (White Nile) & MUDDEYD (Egypt)—Arab.
More pubescent. Leaves ovate or ovate-rotundate; fr.-perianth less glandular.
Wadi Halfa; Khartoum Prov. (J. Royan); Blue Nile Prov.; Fung. Prov. (Fazoghli); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (El Obeid, Abu Haraza, Bara); Darfur Prov.; Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).
The plant is eaten by the Sontals in India as a pot-herb. The root is used in infusion, or given in powder, and has laxative, diuretic and cooling properties. It has been prescribed for asthma with success. Taken in large doses it acts as an emetic. The plant is much used, in external applications, for dropsical swellings.
var. viscosa Choisy.
More robust than type; stems and leaves densely glandular, hairy. Leaves ovate or subrotundate, sinuate, up to 1¼ in. long.
Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit, Soturba & 21° L.N.); Kordofan Prov.
B. verticillata Poir. SHINEMAQ (Blue Nile)—Arab.
Tall, much-branched, glabrous herb. Leaves broadly ovate, 2 in. long. Panicles of 3-5 flowered whorls and terminal umbels; per. minute, stalked glands at base; stamens 2.
Red Sea Prov. (Soturba; Sea-coast about 21° L.N., Wadi Surrawib; Wadi El Omari; Sinkat); Fung Prov. (Singa); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Bir Sodari).
B. plumbaginea Cav. ABU LEBBEN—Arab.
Scrambling or procumbent herb. Leaves broadly ovate, petioled. Flowers arranged as above; per. white or lilac up to ⅓ in. long in upper part, funnel-shaped, lower ⅓ in. long in fr. with 10 large glandular disks near apex.
Red Sea Prov. (Soturba, Khor Tamanib & Erkowit); Khartoum Prov.; Fung Prov. (Roseires); White Nile Prov. (12° 10 N.L.).
A decoction of the root is used for jaundice.
B. pentandra Burch. ERG EL TUEIRĀT (N. Kordn.)—Arab.
Procumbent herb. Leaves large, cordate-ovate, serrate. Whorls in large lateral and terminal panicles; bracts lanceolate, ½ in. long; pedicels ½ in. long; per. upper part funnel-shaped, ⅛ in. long, base ⅓ in. with many glandular disks at top; stamens 3.
Kassala Prov. (between Kassala & Goz Regeb); Blue Nile Prov. Ganeib Assad); Kordofan Prov. (Bara).
PROTEACEÆ.
143Protea abyssinica Willd.
Shrub or small tree. Leaves alternate, lanceolate or lanc. oblong, 6 in. long, coriaceous. Flowers in terminal turbinate heads surrounded by densely imbricate silvery and silky bracts, outermost minute, increasing inwards, innermost oblong, 1½ in. long; per. ¾ in. long, tubular, compressed, 2-tipped, fulvous hairy in upper half; stamens 4; anthers subsessile, ¼ in. long; nut hairy.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); W. Abyssinia (Baro, Sobat District & Blue Nile).
P. madiensis Oliv.
Shrub or small tree; bark red-brown. Leaves lanc.-elliptic, 6-8 in. long, coriaceous, hairy both sides. Heads somewhat sunflower-like, up to 4 in. across; bracts glabrescent, outer ¼ in. long ovate, inner up to 3 in. long, pinkish; per. 2 in. long, yellow.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo; Sabbi, Niamniam: Tuhami’s Zariba, Biri River near Deim Zubeir: Swei River & Gumango River).
DILLENIACEÆ.
144Tetracera alnifolia Willd.
Climbing shrub. Leaves broad-elliptical or obovate-elliptical, entire or obscurely denticulate. Flowers paniculate, white ⅓ to 2/3 in. in diam.; sepals glabrous within.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Mittu-land: near Kuddu by the Roali River).
The stems when cut transversely yield a supply of potable fluid.
T. strigillosa Gilg.
Undershrub, about 2 ft. high from a woody rhizome. Leaves oblanceolate, dentate. Flowers white, very few together; sepals glabrous inside; petals emarginate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near River Biri, and also Niamniam-land: by the Ibba River, Nganye).
PITTOSPORACEÆ.
145Pittosporum abyssinicum Del.
Shrub or tree. Leaves coriaceous oblanceolate, at first rusty tomentose. Flowers ¼ to ⅓ in. long in umbellate clusters in dense terminal corymbose panicles. Sepals rusty tomentose. Ovary pilose. Capsule globose under ½ in. diam.
White Nile.
BIXACEÆ.
146Bixa Orellana Linn.
Shrub. Leaves oblong lanceolate to ovate oblong. Flowers in terminal racemes, pink, large. Fruit covered by a mass of red-brown soft prickles, oblong.
Mongalla Prov. (Kagulu); Congo. Introduced and cultivated.
The source of Annatto.
COCHLOSPERMACEÆ.
147Cochlospermum niloticum Oliv. AKIT—Jur.
Usually a woody dwarf-plant, but occasionally up to 3 ft. high. In the dwarf plants the large, solitary yellow flowers are seen just above the ground. Leaves palmate; seeds covered with cottony hair.
Southern Kordofan Prov.; Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Deim Zubeir, between Wau & Chakchak & Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (Bari & Madi countries); Nuba Mts. Prov. (near Talodi).
The swollen subterranean portion is used medicinally in Nuba Mountains Province, i.e., chewed as a tonic, etc.
FLACOURTIACEÆ.
148Oncoba spinosa Forsk. ALDUKOI (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka; AKALAKWALA—Jur.
Spiny shrub with showy white flowers; spines up to 2 in. long. Leaves subcoriaceous, elliptical, short, acuminate, crenate-serrate or serrulate.
Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Bahr El Ghazal Prov.
The fruit is the size of a Tangerine Orange, and is used by the Dinkas to make a kind of rattle.
149Caloncoba Schweinfurthii Gilg.
Tree up to 30 ft. Leaves ovate-elliptic, rounded at the base, about 5 in. long. Flowers large and showy; petals 1¾ in. long. Fruit 1½ in. diam., apiculate.
Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: at Teh & Niamniam-land: by the Nabambisso River).
150Lindukeria dentata Oliv.