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.
rumanan doki, a plant with a larger bulb used as a medicine for horses. A large species in the Benué district is sold for making a sweet food kunun zaḳi.
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.
rura, Parinarium curatellæfolium, Planch. (Rosaceæ); a small tree with an edible mealy pear-shaped fruit; vide under Gwanja kusa and ḳaiḳai.