In this section we have listed all the plants we talk about in this Guide. For each plant we give its Latin, English and Kiswahili names as well as any vernacular (tribal) names that we know. Additionally, we have a dictionary of names for each language so that you can look up the name of a plant in your own language and find out what the Latin name is. We also tell you where the plant grows in Kenya, which part of the plant you should use and which illnesses the plant is used to treat.
It is very important that you only use the parts of the plant that we tell you to as other parts of the same plant can be poisonous and dangerous to your health. It is important to note that many of these plants can be used for treating other illnesses but we only list the uses that we have documented in this Guide.
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Carissa spinarum (aka Carissa edulis)
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Carissa spinarum (aka Carissa edulis)
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HABITAT Common in most areas of Kenya in forest edges, bushlands and thickets, especially on rocky hillsides.
PART USED Root
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Carissa Natal plum
USES Gonorrhoea
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KISWAHILI Mtanda-mboo
VERNACULAR Mtandamboo (Giriama) Mukawa (Kamba) Mukawa (Kikuyu) Legetetyet (Kipsigis) Kumurwa (Luhya) Ochuoga (Luo) Olamuriaki (Maasai)
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Cinnamomum cassia
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Cinnamomum cassia
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HABITAT Grown in coastal areas. Available in markets.
PART USED Bark
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Cinnamon
USES Mouth sores (oral thrush) Cough Pneumonia Fever Insomnia
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KISWAHILI Mdalasini
VERNACULAR Dalasini (Luo) |
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Citrullus lanatus
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Citrullus lanatus
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HABITAT Widely found in markets. Cultivated in western Kenya and coastal region.
PART USED Fruit Seeds
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Watermelon
USES Nutrition – immune boosting
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KISWAHILI Mtikiti
VERNACULAR Matikiti (Giriama) Itikitiki (Kamba) Afwoto (Luo)
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Citrus limon
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Citrus limon
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HABITAT Easily grown and available in markets.
PART USED Fruit Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Lemon
USES Mouth gargle Running nose Sinus Colds & flu Cough Pneumonia Sore throat Thrush/candida Loss of appetite Nausea/vomiting Fever Swollen lymph glands Chickenpox
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KISWAHILI Ndimu/limau
VERNACULAR Ndim (Luo)
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Citrus sinensis
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Citrus sinensis
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HABITAT Easily grown and available in markets.
PART USED Fruit Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Orange
USES Fever Chickenpox
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KISWAHILI Mchungwa
VERNACULAR Isungwa (Kamba)
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Clematis hirsuta
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Clematis hirsuta
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HABITAT Mainly western Kenya. Found at the edge of forests and in wooded grassland.
PART USED Leaf |
STANDARD/ENGLISH Clematis
USES Colds & flu Cough
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KISWAHILI
VERNACULAR Ewalia (Kamba) Muguyumundu (Kikuyu) Kisengwet (Kipsigis) Lunyili (Luhya) Achogo (Luo) Olkishushet (Maasai)
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Cleome gynandra
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Cleome gynandra
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HABITAT Grows all over Kenya as a weed, particularly in abandoned homesteads and animal enclosures.
PART USED Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Spider herb Bastard’s mustard
USES Nutrition
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KISWAHILI Saga
VERNACULAR Mwangani (Giriama) Mwianzo (Kamba) Thagiti (Kikuyu) Isakyat (Kipsigis) Tsitsaka (Luhya) Dek (Luo) Lemba-e-nabo (Maasai)
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Cocos nucifera
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Cocos nucifera
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HABITAT Commonly grown along the coast.
PART USED Nut – flesh and milk
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Coconut
USES Headache Rehydration Indigestion
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KISWAHILI Mnazi
VERNACULAR Mnazi (Giriama) Munathi (Kamba)
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Corchorus olitorius
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Corchorus olitorius
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HABITAT Widely found in Kenya in seasonally flooded areas, flood plains, at edges of lakes, especially in low hot country.
PART USED Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Bush okra Jute
USES Nutrition
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KISWAHILI Mrenda
VERNACULAR Vombo (Giriama) Omurere (Luhya) Apoth (Luo) |
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Crotalaria brevidens
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Crotalaria brevidens
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HABITAT Found in Kitui, Embu, Kiambu, Nairobi, Kapenguria, Nanyuki and Sotik.
PART USED Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH
USES Nutrition
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KISWAHILI
VERNACULAR Kamusuusuu (Kamba) Kipkururiet (Kipsigis) Emiro (Luhya) Mito (Luo) Oleechei (Maa) |
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Cucurbita maxima
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Cucurbita maxima
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HABITAT Easily grown and available in markets.
PART USED Seeds Fruit Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Pumpkin
USES Diarrhoea Worms Nutrition
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KISWAHILI Marenge/Matengo
VERNACULAR Ulenge (Kamba) Marenge (Kikuyu) Lisebebe (Luhya) |
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Cymbopogon citratus
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Cymbopogon citratus
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HABITAT Cultivated throughout Kenya – especially Kamba, Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Giriama and Taita.
PART USED Leaf
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STANDARD/ENGLISH Lemon grass
USES Chickenpox
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KISWAHILI
VERNACULAR Nyeki ya kai (Kamba) Majandlum (Luo) |
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