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.