Dagomba Tree Names

DAGOMBA PLANT NAMES
[PRELIMINARY CIRCULATION DRAFT FOR COMMENT]
1. DAGBANI-LATIN
2. LATIN-DAGBANI [NOT READY]
3. LATIN-ENGLISH COMMON NAMES [NOT READY]
Roger Blench
Mallam Dendo
8, Guest Road
Cambridge CB1 2AL
United Kingdom
Voice/ Fax. 0044-(0)1223-560687
Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804
E-mail R.Blench@odi.org.uk
http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm
Cambridge, 19 May, 2006

Roger Blench Dagomba plant names and uses Circulation version
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................I
1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................. II
2. TRANSCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................... II
Vowels ....................................................................................................................................................iii
Consonants.............................................................................................................................................. iv
Tones....................................................................................................................................................... iv
Plurals and other forms ............................................................................................................................ v
3. BOTANICAL SOURCES..................................................................................................................... V
Transcriptions in ethnobotanical sources................................................................................................. v
4. TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................................VI
5. USES AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS.................................................................VI
6. DAGOMBA VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION ...........................................................................VI
7. FURTHER WORK ............................................................................................................................ VII
REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................... VII
D A G B A N I - E N G L I S H / L A T I N ............................................................................................... 1
i
1. Introduction
The Dagomba are one of the most widespread and numerous peoples of Northern Ghana. They have two
principal centres, Tamale and Yendi, centred in the Northern territories. Their language, Dagbani or
Dagbanli, is widely known as a second language in north-eastern Ghana. Despite this, no dictionary of
their language has ever been published and technical vocabulary such as the names of trees, plants and
their products may be problematic to elicit.
Ethnobotanical information is essential to the work of foresters and others concerned with the
environment. Local people have extensive knowledge both about the trees and plants in their region, their
uses and distribution. In order to work effectively with communities on woodland management it is
necessary to discuss individual plant species. This can only be done if it is clear that the forester has an
effective identification base for the local language.
This guide1 is intended to provide this for Dagbani by giving the singular and plural of as many plants as
possible, in as accurate a transcription as possible. Where the plant has been identified, the Latin name
and the common English name, if one exists, is given. In addition whatever is known about the use of the
plant is added to the definition.
This guide only contains ‘wild’ plants, although some fruit trees, introduced as crops are now widespread
in woodland areas. Similarly, it is common practice to transplant bush plants to the homestead for
medicinal or other use and even to transplant some food species. Nonetheless, the Dagomba also have an
extensive and complex repertoire of domestic plants, which are classified in a companion document2.
This document also has a short section on Dagomba classification of vegetation. One of the sources of
confusion in discussions between communities and extension workers is a failure to understand the
different meanings applied
2. Transcription
Dagbani is a member of the Oti-Volta language group, which in turn forms one major branch of the Gur
family (Manessy 1975). Its closest relatives are likely to be the languages Talni and Nabti. Most of these
languages show marked vowel harmony and thus have either seven or nine vowels in ±ATR pairs.
Historically, in Ghana, the transcription of most languages has followed the pattern of Twi, with seven
vowels, adding /ɛ/ and /ɔ/ to the five cardinal vowels. Despite this tradition, the phonology of Dagbani is
exceptional. The open vowels /ɛ/ and /ɔ/ have merged with their closed counterparts and a central vowel
/ˆ/ has developed. This was represented in some orthographies with /ˆ/ but most recent publications
eschew this. Academic publications on Dagbani are (Fisch 1913; Benzing 1969, 1971; Wilson 1963,
1970, 1972 & 1976; Wilson & Bendor-Samuel 1969).
Despite its importance, Dagbani has no standard writing system. The orthography used in the Bible is not
the same as that recommended in academic publications such as Wilson (1972) nor that used by the
current Dagbani literacy committee. Present writing systems do not accurately represent the sounds of the
language. The present manuscript is not intended as literacy material but as a practical aid to those
concerned with the environment in Northern Ghana. The intention is therefore to transcribe Dagbani
in a phonemic orthography so that words can be pronounced correctly. Readers may then convert words
to a writing system with which they feel comfortable (see Table 1).
1
I would like to thank Tony Naden, Gbeduuri, for making available to me unpublished Dagbani materials and to
my field assistants, especially James Amaligo, Rural Forestry Department, Tamale, Joseph Ziblin of Yoŋduni and
Mahama Afa Asumah of Tolon for working on this with me.
2
‘Dagomba agriculture’ R.M. Blench. Working Paper for ‘Partnerships and Policies for Change’ programme,
Overseas Development Institute.
ii
Dagbani has two dialects, East and West, centred around Yendi and Tamale. In many cases, words are
very similar or the same in both dialects. Where differences have been recorded, there are given with the
abbreviations;
ED Eastern or Yendi Dialect

WD Western Dialect
The reference forms given here are based on the dialect of the Tamale area. The most common
differences are vowel sounds, ways of forming the plural and the exchange of /r/ and /l/. Speakers seem
to have little trouble adapting to these differences. The Nanumba people, speaking the Nani language,
who live in scattered settlements in the south-east of the Dagomba area use very similar terms to those in
Dagbani, often with small vowel changes.
Vowels
Dagbani has six vowels;
Front Central Back

Close i u
Close-Mid e ˆ o
Open a
These can all occur in any position except /ˆ/ which is confined to stems. Vowels may be long or short,
except for /ˆ/. A long vowel is marked by doubling. Ghanaian orthographies traditionally mark seven
vowels, i.e. the five symbols used in English together with ɛ and ɔ. These are actually unnecessary for
Dagbani, although now that the tradition has been established, writing them will probably continue.
Table 1 shows how to convert these characters to those used here;
Table 1. Vowel conversion table

Commonly written This document
ɛ Æ e
ɔ Æ o
The ˆ sound can be written as ‘i’ if the reader wishes to transcribe some of the words into one of the other
Dagbani orthographies.
iii
Consonants
The consonants are as follows;
Bilabial Labio-dental Alveolar Alveopalata Palata Velar Labial-velar

l l
Plosive p t tS k kp
b d dZ g gb
Fricative f s (S) h
v z (ʒ) (ɣ)
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ ŋm
Lateral l
Tap/trill r
Approximant w y
Most orthographies mark /ɣ/ the velar fricative as a separate consonant. This appears to be unnecessary as
/ɣ/ is simply a positional allophone of /g/ between vowels. Nonetheless, it is marked in the present text
as Dagbani speakers are familiar with it. The voiceless alveopalatal / tS / is usually written ‘ch’ in
Ghanaian languages following English orthographic practice and this is also retained. The palatal nasal
/ɲ/ is written ‘ny’. /S/ is written ‘sh’ but /ʒ/ uses the IPA symbol. Both alveopalatal fricatives are
allophones of their alveolar counterparts but they will be written here following Dagbani orthographic
practice.
Tones
Ghanaian convention does not mark tone in orthographies, regardless of its importance in individual
languages. The Dagbani tone system is described by Wilson (1970, 1972) and there is no doubt that a
secure command of the tones is required to become a competent speaker of Dagbani. However,
individual words spoken in isolation can usually be understood by speakers even if the tones are
incorrect. This should not deter researchers from learning the correct tonal pattern for each plant name.
There are two level tones and downstep, marked as follows;
High ʹ
Downstep !
Low ˋ
Downstep is a type of high tone that lowers the pitch of the rest of the word.
Those who are not familiar with tones can simply ignore the tone marks and write the words without
them.
DAGBANI DOES NOT HAVE A WRITING SYSTEM AGREED BY

EVERYONE. IF SOME OF THE CONVENTIONS IN THIS GUIDE ARE
DIFFERENT FROM THOSE YOU USE THEN SIMPLY CONVERT
THEM. THE CORE OF THE GUIDE IS THE ACCURATE
IDENTIFICATION OF PLANT NAMES.
iv
Plurals and other forms
Like most Gur languages, Dagbani has an elaborate system of plurals for nouns that consist generally of
alternating a CV suffix. However, in some cases these suffixes are irregular or have become reduced, and
in some cases also the stem vowels undergo changes. Recording plurals is very important, as in many
cases, the plural of a tree name is the name of its fruits or leaves. The plurals are given in the second
column.
3. Botanical Sources
The most important source for Dagbani plant names are the lists appended to Irvine (1961). Irvine is
essentially a survey of the woody plants of Ghana, but the lists are taken over, unrevised, from his earlier
publication ‘Plants of the Gold Coast’ (Irvine 1930). This has two problems; the names listed in the
Appendix sometimes refer to plants not in the text, and the scientific names were not updated and are
therefore sometimes to outdated. As far as possible, I have tried to match these names with their most
recent version.
Irvine’s Dagbani lists were reprised in the first edition of ‘The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa’
(Dalziel 1937). More Dagbani materials are contained in the publication in progress of the second edition
(Burkill 1985, 1994, 1995) based also on herbarium specimens as well as exiting literature. Finally, there
is a long list of Dagbani names contained in CIPSEG (1993) based on botanical surveys of sacred groves
in the Tamale area.
Not all of these are necessarily accurate; the presence of several contradictory identifications in the
sources makes this clear. However, the great majority were confirmed by present-day informants, as were
many of the uses and beliefs recorded.
The major lexical source for Dagbani is Lehmann (n.d.) which has extensive data on plant names. Many
of these can be identified through comparison with the ethnobotanical sources. Lehmann has the
advantage that the transcriptions are generally more reliable and the plurals are usually given. Additional
materials were added from the author’s fieldwork in Ghana from February 1997 onwards. I would
Transcriptions in ethnobotanical sources
The transcriptions are very variable, since they are usually compiled from herbarium sheets, so they
represent the whim of individual botanists. Nevertheless, in most cases they are recognisable. However,
the forms given are in the seven-vowel transcription common in Ghana but inappropriate for Dagbani,
never tone-marked and always without the plurals and derived forms for fruit or leaves.
Queries
The sources provide a number of names that cannot be identified by present-day Dagbani speakers. There
may be several reasons for this;
a) the transcription is so garbled that speakers simply cannot recognise it as a word they know.
b) the word was recorded in a remote area where the plant exists but the plant is not present in the
more densely farmed areas
c) the word is actually in another language, Twi or Mampruli for example, and is thus not recognised.
Such queries are placed at the end of the list in the hope that some may be identified in future.
v
4. Terminology
Latin names are given for all the plants identified, along with the authorities, which may seem to add a
layer of unnecessary complexity. However, the practice of botanists of constantly changing their minds
on the names of even quite common and well established economic plants makes this necessary. In recent
years, even the name of the shea tree, probably the single most important tree for farmers in northern
Ghana, has been changed from Butyrospermum parkii to Vitellaria paradoxa. The authorities identify the
name given at a particular period so that in future, if the name changes again, or the taxonomists
reclassify it, the correct identification can be traced.
5. Uses and cultural importance of Plants
Ethnobotany has two major uses; naming plants accurately allows professionals such as foresters to talk
with communities effectively about vegetation. But beyond identification, the real value of this is to
determine the role particular plants play in the economic and cultural life of communities. The uses
recorded here have been identified within the Dagomba community. For many plants, no use is yet
recorded, but almost certainly the plant plays a part either in the extensive medical herbarium or for more
practical economic purposes.
In the past, many more wild plants were used as additional sources of food. Before fruit such as oranges
and mangoes became readily available in the market, wild fruits were much more appreciated. Many of
these trees have now retreated to remote areas to be replaced by planted trees close to villages. In the
same way, a large number of plants are noted in earlier sources as ‘famine foods’ i.e. plants that can be
eaten after processing in cases of severe food shortage. The development of food relief has meant that
much of the knowledge about such wild plants is in danger of being lost. So when such information is
recorded, it does not mean that it is current practice but reminds people of the potential of such plants.
Beyond this, plants also play a role in cultural life. Beliefs about trees or plants may affect whether they
are protected or cut down and whether the fruits are eaten.
6. Dagomba vegetation classification
The Dagomba classify vegetation according to very different criteria from European botany. It is not
enough to simply translate tìá as ‘tree’ or móɣú as ‘grass’. Table 2 shows the main groups and the types
of plant that fall into them;
Table 2. Dagomba classification of vegetation

Singular Plural Vegetation classes included
tìá tìhí tree, shrub, epiphyte
móɣú mórí grass, sedge, small plant
bínzórlì bínzórà vine, creeper, liana
màlèɣú màlèrí mushroom, fungus
nóyólí vegetable gall
Apart from this, vegetation is also classified according to the position of the fruit or tuber, as follows;
bín-wóndà any plant which has fruits above ground

bín-nyárà any plant which has fruits or tubers below ground
vi
In addition, the generic term tìbéé pl. tìbéhí refers to all trees, such as gaa, tua and nyoo, believed to
shelter spirits.
tìtáblí tìtábà general term to describe the entwining of two different species of
trees or herbs
7. Further work
The present document consists of a preliminary synthesis of existing field materials on Dagbani. It needs
substantial checking in the field both in terms of content, transcription and expansion of the
ethnobotanical aspects.
References
Benzing, Brigitta 1969. Beiträge zur tonstruktur von nomen, pronomen und verbum im Dagbanne
(Nordghana). In XVII. Deutscher Orientalistentag. ed. W. Voigt. Zeitschrift der Deutschen
Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, Supplementa 1. 1070-1078. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag.
Benzing, Brigitta 1971. Neues material zur Morphologie der Nominalklassen im Dagbani. In
Afrikanischen Sprachen und Kulturen. Ein Querschnitt. ed. V. Six et al., 66-78. Hamburg: Deutsches
Institut für Afrika-Forschung.
Burkill, H.M. 1994. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families E-I, Kew, Royal Botanic
Gardens.
Burkill, H.M. 1995. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families J-L, Kew, Royal Botanic
Gardens.
Burkill, H.M. 1997. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families M-R, Kew, Royal Botanic
Gardens.
Burkill, H.M., 1985. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families A-D, Kew, Royal Botanic
Gardens.
CIPSEG 1993. Ecological, ethnobotanical, physiological and eco-physiological investigations into three
traditional groves in Northern Ghana. Legon, Ghana: Department of Botany.
Dalziel, J.M. 1937. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. London: Crown Agents.
Fisch, R. 1913. Wörtersammlung Dagbani-Deutsch. Mitteilungen des Seminars für Orientalische
Sprachen (Berlin). 16,3:113-214.
Irvine, F.R. 1961. Woody Plants of Ghana with special reference to their uses. London: Oxford
University Press.
Lehmann, H. n.d. Dagbani dictionary. electronic format.
Okezie Akobundu, I. & C.W. Agyakwa 1998. A handbook of West African weeds. 2nd. ed. Ibadan:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
Wilson, W.A.A. 1972. Dagbani, an introductory course. Tamale, Institute of Linguistics. (mimeo).
Wilson, W.A.A. and J.T. Bendor-Samuel 1969. The phonology of the nominal in Dagbani. Linguistics,
52:56-82.
vii
DAGBANI - ENGLISH/LATIN
Singular Plural Gloss

A.
àlépèlè bìndì herb of wasteland

Tridax procumbens L.
eaten by animals. et. ‘aeroplane shit’
àlúúrà ~ -nìmá teak tree
Tectona grandis
< H. ‘needle’. A fast-growing plantation tree used for
firewood and occasionally for furniture.
àntírìnyà ~ nìmá cashew tree and fruit
Anacardium occidentale
et. A shortened form of atiri yi nya ‘the one who will
get and give you’
apamaban Ludwigia abyssinica A. Rich.
àsóómà ~ nìmá turmeric
Curcuma domestica Val.
plant with bulbous roots used in dyeing skins yellow,
hence yellow colour.
àtúZéɣù àtúZérì shrub
The leaves and roots are used for medicine. et. ‘plant
+ red’
B.
bàdàlí bàdàyá vine with a large underground tuber

The vine-stem is rubbed on sores on the legs of small
ruminants and dogs.
bàgààlúa — acacia tree
Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Willd.
The pods are used for tanning. < H. also gbànzàbgóó
bàlàŋbèlè See bàlàŋgbìnì
bàlàŋgbìnì bàlàŋgbìná An annual herb growing on waste ground
Also bàlàŋbèlè
Borreria octodon Hepper
Pandiaka heudelotii (Moq.) Hook f.
Also powanyakruga zuperi
bàndóbà — climbing plant, the leaves of which are used as a
purgative.
Proverb: Ti naa maa ŋmanla bandoba tom laɣlaɣi
Our chief is like the bitter bandoba plant i.e. Chiefs
are not easy people to deal with
bándùɣrígù bándùɣrísi bushy plants usually grown on or near compounds,
effective against fever. Often an ingredient in
children’s medicines. There are two types, yìŋ
bándùɣrígù or ‘house ~’ which is planted around the
1

compound and móɣní (or yo) bándùɣrígù ‘bush ~’
which is collected from the bush
bàɣángà bàɣánsì scrambling shrub
camel’s foot
P. reticulatum (DC.) Hochst.
The leaves used to pack cassava and Bambara
groundnuts to put in boiling water for cooking. The
leaves are used as a plaster to cover sores on
children’s legs. Children can be cured of measles by
bathing them in an infusion of leaves. The fibre can
be used to make a rope.
bàŋlàɣú bàŋlàrí Tephrosia purpurea (L) Pers.
The leaves are fed to goats and sheep. The twigs are
used for roasting kebabs.
báŋlì — vine up to 2m.
Women use it to make soup. They cook the leaves,
pour of the water and then pound the residue.
bàŋmárígá — The name means ‘floodland star’ so presumably a
plant of damp areas
bàrè kpàndáá Four-leaved senna
Cassia absus L.
bàrgá bàrsí shrub to 3m. grown on the farms
The leaves are used for soup and bark for making
rope.
bàrùŋgwìní bàrùŋgbìná Spermacoce stachydea
bèèní — Creeper with a very long root. The root is crushed and
mixed with water to form a sort of glue. This is mixed
with the sand used for building houses to ensure the
rain doesn’t wash away the walls.
benyoɣo tirigu Acroceras zizanioides Dandy
see also manci
bìbìrètútúɣú bìbìrètútúrí shrub
Cochlospermum planchoni Hook. f or C. tinctorium
A. Rich. (Cochlospermaceae)
Also tákpárígá lóòrì
bìná — sedge with fragrant rhizome; wild tiger nut
Cyperus articulatus Linn.
see nansagti kpirli, yìŋ bìná, yò bìná. Rhizome used
as a remedy for coughs. There are two types, the
cultivated type and the type found in the bush.
bírílì bírà Any plant of the Hibiscus genus whose leaves are
used as spinach.
Particularly Hibiscus surattensis L.
Used to make rope. Also kananjuŋ, pianeyemere
bìm bìmà shrub used to poison fish
Tephrosia vogelii Hook f.
also a generic term for any fish-poison
birimia birimhi shrub used for making rope
2

bìyólí sìmlè bìyólí sìmà Alysicarpus ovalifolius (Schum. & Thonn.) J. Leonard
bòcháá bòchéhí witchweed
see wùblím
bùgú bùrí herb with a bulb beneath the ground
Tacca leontopetaloides (L) O. Ktze
bùdùnì bùdùnà shrub whose roots are used as chewsticks and which
make the teeth red
Waltheria indica L.
or Cleome viscosa L.
bùkpùŋá bùkpùnsí ordeal tree
Erythrophleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms
Cut for firewood, but poisonous to animals.
bùlágbíríwó bùlágbírsí Cissus sp.
et. he-goat + scratch + head. Goats scratch their heads
against this plant when they are aching.
bulasam Small herb with yellow flowers used as a broom
Sida acuta Burm f.
Also sambaŋ kana
bulimbugu bulimburi Custard–apple
Annona senegalensis Pers.
Tree with edible fruit. Insects easily invade a plucked
fruit. Leaves are fed to animals. Roots are used to
treat waist-pain.
buntibli buntiba shrub
Stylochiton hypogaeus Lepr.
bùsápírígù bùsápírsì tree
Feretia apodanthera Del.
C.
chenchen dibga Kohautia senegalensis

chímà — thatching grass
Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.
chínchééŋà chínchénsì trees of the Entada group
also chíncéréŋcíŋà Entada africana Guill. & Perr., E. abyssinica Steud.
ex Rich.
see náɣnyóóntíà
D.
dàbgà dábsí shrub fed to horses

Used as a chewstick.
dàkòl gbiŋkpagle see below
dàkòl sàgábo!rlí dàkòl sàgábo!rá wild plant with small edible brown berries
et. ‘bachelor + handful of porridge’
Eugenia subherbacea A. Chev.
3

Fadogia agrestis Schweinf.
Also dàkòl gbiŋkpagle, sòɣlàkàb´gá
dàŋkùŋá dàŋkùnsí tree with edible fruit (not eaten in this area)
Hymenocardia acida Tul.
dàsáá nyínyáɣú ~ nyínyárí thistles of the Centaurea group, star-thistle
Centaurea praecox Oliv. and Hiern.
et. ? + ‘claws’
dàsàŋá dàsàndí empty dawadawa pod. See dòó
dàZèmám — thatching grass
Andropogon pseudapricus Stapf
dàZùlí dàZùyá Trees or shrubs of the Gardenia genus
Proverb: Kuliga daZuli kom dir’ o k’ o mi dir’
kaɣli. Water uproots the dazuli tree (during floods)
and in its turn it spoils the reeds (the high grass).
dàZù nàánaáɣà shrub with small, edible apple-like fruit and sweet-
smelling yellow or white blossoms.
Gardenia erubescens Stapf & Hutch.
dàZù nímbóɣù Gardenia ternifolia Schum. & Thonn.
dàZù tìkpùrílí shrub
Gardenia sp.
dìnkpànyúlí dìnkpànyúyá Ageratum conyzoides L.
dòbínó dòbínó nímà date palm
< H.
dókúl´Zèm dókúl´Zèmà the flower (corolla) of the dawadawa (locust) tree.
dòɣó dòrí dawadawa pods on the tree
Proverb: Jaŋ ’ bil’ lu kpaɣa galem dòrí, ni kpi kum
biεɣu. The small monkey fell sick and accused
dawadawa pods; he’ll die a very bad death. (he won’t
have anything else to eat). If a child turns against his
breadwinner, his parents, he’ll suffer.
dòó dòhí dawadawa tree
locust tree
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R Br. ex Don
The seeds are fermented and made into strong-
smelling cakes sold to flavour food. The yellow
powder inside the pods is eaten as a snack and boiled
up into a sweet drink. The roots and empty seed pods
are boiled into a liquid used to seal floors and walls.
A weak solution of this is used for stomach medicine.
The bark is burnt and mixed with earthworm casts and
used to smooth away scars. the bark is also soaked
and the water is rubbed on the skin for ‘bone pain’
[arthritis?].
dòmàlèɣú dòmàlèrí Fungus growing on the dawadawa tree
dòzím dòzímá yellow flour from the dawadawa (locust) pod
singular form serves as an adjective, preceding the
noun qualified meaning yellow
4
F.
filasiko senna
Senna alata (Linn.) Roxb. < H.
fìr`gínlì fírgìmá aerial yam
Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Cultivated by planting at the foot of trees, but also
found in the wild. Wild forms tend to be toxic. Also
kuru fìr`gínlì. Proverb: Fírgìmá nayiγa be m-be n-
guli ku lɔ bɔbma. The thief turns the string around
and cannot tie them up (because they are round). Said
to someone who tries to defeat someone cleverer than
him.
fùlùmfùlàà fùlùmfùlàhì Commelina africana (L.)
name means ‘male Commelina’
fùlùmfùnyâŋ fùlùmfùnyámà name means ‘female Commelina’
fùlùŋfùgù fùlùŋfùrì Commelina sp.
fùùkáɣlí fùkáɣá bristly foxtail grass
Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.
also Echinocloa crus pavoni Schult.
G.
gàà gàhí ebony tree

monkey-guava
Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst ex A.DC.
The tree is said to be the home of the wood-sprites
Kpukparsi, and as such may not be cut for firewood.
The roots are used in a decoction to drive away
spirits. The fruits are edible and in some parts of
Dagombaland are the property of the village chief.
Proverb: Zakpalɛɣu zaɣsi kiŋkama ka lee ŋubri
gawuɣla. The zakpalɛɣu bird refused figs and eats
gaya fruits. Figs are easy to get and fresh and false
ebony fruits have fallen on the ground and are dry and
not tasty.
gàb`lí gàb`lá fruit of the gàblìgá tree
gàblìgá gàblìsí small thorn tree with edible fruit used to make the
stocks of guns
Balanites aegyptiaca (Balanitaceae)
gàhàŋ gwòlúgú gwàhàŋ gwòlsí tree with very soft wood
tree Hannoa undulata (Guiil. & Perr.) Planch. or
Quassia undulata ?
The ease with which the branches break has made this
tree proverbial for suicides. The roots are used as an
aphrodisiac.
5

Cussonia arborea Hochst. [formerly barteri]
gàlìnZègú gàlìnZèrí tree or epiphyte on other species
gutta-percha tree
Ficus platyphylla Del.
also gàlìnZènyâŋ. A liquid is tapped from the root
and rubbed on a swollen body. The bark is an
ingredient in various secret love-philtres.
gàlìnZèláá gàlìnZèláhí tree(s) of the Ficus group
Ficus iteophylla Miq. or Ficus glumosa Del. var.
glaberrima
name means ‘male Ficus’
gàlìnZènyâŋ gàlìnZènyámà fig-tree
see gàlìnZègú
name means ‘female Ficus’. The water from boiled
leaves is given to a child that is not walking properly.
gàmpìr`gá gàmpìr`sí tree(s) of the Ficus group including gampillaa and
gampilnyaŋ
Proverb: gampiri suŋ ŋi laɣim zii ni ba. A good fig
tree will gather people to sit under it.
gàmpìláá gàmpìláhí tree
Ficus thonningii Blume
gàmpìl`nyâŋ gàmpìl`nyámà fig-tree
Ficus polita Vahl
gàrìnyíní gàrìnyíná Acacia macrostachya Reichenb. ex Benth.
also nyera
garli gara creeper
gársa!blì gársa!blà shrub or liana
Combretum dolichopetalum Engl. & Diels
gárZégù gárZérì shrub or liana
C. paniculatum Vent. ssp. paniculatum
gáálì gáyá fruit of the ebony, gaa (Diospyros mespiliformis)
gbanzabgoo gbanzabgohi acacia tree whose pods are used for tanning.
Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Willd.
also bagalua
gbànzá(lí)ŋgá gbànzá(lí)nsí tree used for pestles and roof frames
Burkea africana Hook.
gbébà Tall aromatic herb
Hyptis pectinata (Linn.) Poit. (Labiatae)
gbìrgá gbìrsí shrubs of the Combretum group
Combretum molle R. Br. and C. nigricans Lepr.
The chewstick is used to keep the teeth firm. The fibre
is boiled to treat internal sores.
gbùŋgbàŋ gbùŋgbàmà tall grass used for making mats. Grows where land
has not been cultivated.
gingagli the tender leaves of giŋgagigoo which is boiled and
served as food in time of famine. (E.D.) gingagri
(W.D.)
gìngàgóó gìngàgóhí see gìngàtiǎ
6

gìngàtìá gìngàtìhí snuffbox tree
shrub with edible fruits which are also used for
making snuffboxes
Strychos spinosa Lam.
Also púmpónchíà
gólínchémà — scrambling thorny shrub
Mimosa pigra Linn.
góndílí góndá pawpaw, papaya tree and fruit
Carica papaya Linn.
< H.
góópóhágà góópóhásì acacia with highly scented roots, effective to cure
neuralgia. Thorny with a sap used for glue
góópiélgà góópiélsì acacia with white bark.
góóziê gózéhì acacia with red bark
Acacia dudgeoni Craib
Also wàrfáá
gotaba khakiweed
Alternanthera pungens H.B. & K.
gùlúŋgûŋ gùlúŋgúmà shrub sp.
Nauclea latifolia Smith
The fruit is edible. The bitter leaves are boiled for
medicine. The roots are cut up and used as medicine
for toothache and a sore throat. If bees go to this plant
it makes their honey bitter.
gúmáchúɣzùlì gúmáchúɣzùyà tall grass used in weaving gbala mats to cover
doorways
The name means ‘chameleon’s tail’ referring to the
shape of the flower.
gùmb´lá gùmbíhí kapok seedlings
gùmbóɣú — kapok seeds. See also kantoŋ
gumboɣri ? An erect herb or small shrub. Grows both in the house
and in the bush. The seeds are brought from the bush
and planted around the house. It flowers in the dry
season and has many seeds. Used for a medicine to
aid in childbirth.
gùnààzúá gùnààzúé Hoslundia opposita Vahl
gùŋá gùnsí kapok tree
Ceiba pentandra (L) Gaertn.
gùŋgùmdí — kapok lint used to stuff pillows
gùŋgùmlí gùŋgùmá kapok pod
gwávà gwává nímà guava tree and fruit
Psidium guajava Linn.
< E.
7

J.
jàŋ kúnón nyúlì Boerhavia coccinea Mill.

et. cat’s yam. Children set out the tubers as if they
were yams when pretending to make farms
jáŋ sínsábgá jáŋ sínsábáá Tree with small red edible fruits
Lannea sp.
jáŋ yó kòrlì Polycarpa corymbosa (L.) Lam. (Caryophyllaceae)
et. ‘monkey’s old penis’
Also given as Kyllinga squamulata Thonn. ex Vahl
jèŋgbè yògrlí jèŋgbè yògrá flowering tree
Moringa oleifera Lam.
i.e. Hausa yògrlí
jèŋkpìbrìgóó jèŋkpìbrìgóhí shrub whose roots are used for medicine
?Asparagus africanus Lam.
et. Hausa + ? + thorn. If people want to catch house-
bats or prevent them from flying into a space they
spread these thorns across and the bats will become
entangled in the thorns
jìrìyúŋ jìrìyúmá balsam spurge
shrub
Euphorbia balsamifera Ait.
K.
káá káhí edible shrub, with white flowers.

? Cleome viscosa [kalaa in source]
kàgàlóm — immature káglí grass
káglí kágá elephant grass
Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
A tall swamp grass used for gbala mats and doorway
coverings.
kahinkoɣu nyuli — A vine with a large underground tuber of no food
value. The tuber consists of fibrous rings like an
onion with no flesh inside. Proverb: nam-ŋmanla
kahinkoɣu nyuli kinship is like k~ i.e it has rings of
complexity but may turn out to be useless in the end
kálífí máálám — small herb with tiny, numerous seeds.
Muslims gather the seeds and mix them with cereals
when sowing in order to multiply the crop. Name and
concept borrowed from Hausa.
prob. Evolvulus asinoides (Linn.) Linn.
kàl`wá kàl`wà nìmá tree with thorns on the trunk whose roots are used as
medicinal herbs.
kàl`wá bihili kàl`wá biha thorn of the kàl`wá tree, used as a medicine for
swellings, etc. A stone is soaked with water and the
thorn rubbed against it to make a paste. This is then
8

applied to the swelling.
kàmbàŋá kàmbàmá tree
Hannoa undulata (Guill. & Perr.) Planch.
The branches are used for roofs and the bitter bark is
made into medicine.
kantoŋ cakes made from the fermented seeds of the baobab
and kapok fruits as a condiment for soup
also gumbogu
kàsàláá Euphorbia sp.
kàsàlí Euphorbia sp.
kìŋkàm`lí kìŋkàmá fruit of the kiŋkaŋa tree. Edible but usually left for
the bats
kìŋkàŋà kìŋkànsí fig tree
Ficus gnaphalocarpa (Miq.) Steud. ex A. Rich.
kìŋkàŋ sálgú kìŋkàŋ sálsí fig tree
Ficus capensis Thunb.
kìŋkàŋ zàɣsìgú kìŋkàŋ zàɣsìsí Ficus sp.
A tree whose leaves cause itching. The roots are very
popular for medicine and as a result, trees are rather
rare in the Tamale area.
kìrìŋá kìrìnsí or kìrìmà Flacourtia flavescens Willd.
kirirema said by FRI to be a name for Diospyros mespiliformis,
but probably a mistake
kùlnyúrlí kùlnyúrá reed whose hollow stem is used as a straw
kofe Cyperus haspan Linn.
konyirigo Vossia cuspidata Griff.
kòrìnchí — herb whose corm is used for medicine
Curculigo pilosa (Schum. & Thonn.) Engl.
Also táríŋgúlì
kòrìntàlí kòrìntàyá herb with a woody base, with burs and spines. Only
found in remote areas. Said to be poisonous
Pupalia lappacea (Linn.) Juss.
kòrlàŋgbàndí kòrlàŋgbàná tree with large leaves
Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr.
et. Terminalia + skin (referring to the leaves)
also korli nyau
kòrlí kòrá trees of the Terminalia group
Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr. and
Terminalia glaucescens Planch.
kòrlínyâŋ kòrlínyámà tree
Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr.
also kòrlàŋgbàndí
kòyém — shrub whose sap is squeezed into milk by cowherds to
thicken it
also lánjám
kpààliégù kpààliérì Horse-bean. Climbing plant with long pods used by
women to make music.
? Canavalia ensiformis
9

kpááŋwu!ndúgù — bushy grass-like lemon grass, but with smaller leaves
and with a powerful odour. Used for children’s
medicine.
kpáákpà kpáákpà nìmá oil-palm
Elaeis guineensis
palm kernels
The oil is used extensively in cooking and is also
traded widely. < H. ?
kpáákpàl kpáám — pericarp oil of oil-palm
kpàgàZáwú tree sp.
kpagligu kpaglisi tree with edible fruit. (E.D.) (kpagriga, W.D.)
kpagriga kpagrisi tree with edible fruit. (W.D. (kpagliga, E.D.)
tallow tree
Detarium senegalense JF Gmelin
kpàgú kpàrí raffia palm
Raffia sudanica
kpakpwele kushikom Heteranthera callifolia Richb. ex. Kunth
kpalga kpalsi shrub used to make mortars and for firewood. It has
black seeds and hard pods. Fruit not eaten. also
yokpali
Securidaca longepedunculata Fres.
or Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. [?]
kpálbíyá kpálígú or kpálbíhí cakes made from fermented locust seeds
kpàlsóɣú kpàlsárí doka tree
Isoberlinia doka Craib & Stapf
kpálsò pièlègá kpálsò pièl`sí tree used for firewood. The fresh leaves are fed to
cattle.
Isoberlinia tomentosa (Harms) Craib & Stapf
kpámvóɣù — grass used for animal feed
kpaŋbili plant found in the bush but also cultivated
The name means ‘guinea-fowl breast’ and if you put
the leaves in soup it will taste of guinea-fowl
kpaŋguli NC tree
Afzelia africana Sm.
also kpalaŋa
kpansogwa tunrsole, cock’s comb
Heliotropum indicum Linn.
kpáráciâ kpárácíhì Snuff- box tree
Oncoba spinosa Forsk.
The fruit is edible and the fruit-shells are dried and
used as containers
kpargani Cochlospermum planchoni Hook. f
Also bibere(tu)tugu, tákpárígá lóòrì
kpárípìhìgà kpárípìhìsì small shrub with toxic milky latex. The sap is fed to
children said to be afflicted with evil spirits. Children
use it to raise scars on the skin.
Sapium grahamii (Stapf) Prain
kpìhìgá kpìhìsí ackee apple tree.
10

Blighia sapida Konig.
The fruit is much appreciated but not common as it
depends on deep fertile soil. The name is also applied
to the cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
kpìhìlí kpìhá ackee apple fruit
kpììŋŋòɣù kpììŋŋòrì frankincense tree used for rafters
Boswellia dalzielii Hutch.
kpííŋà kpíhì shea nut. See tááŋà
kpílígá kpílsí small tree used to make hoe handles
Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth.) van Meeuwen or
Afrormosia laxiflora (Benth. ex Bak.)
kpùkpàlgá kpùkpàlá or fan palm
kpùkpàlsí Borassus aethiopicum
The leaves are used for weaving hats and fans. The
interior of the fruit can be eaten.
kpùkpàlgbǎŋ kpùkpàlgbàná fan palm
See kpùkpàlgá
kpùŋkpàŋgóŋ kpùŋkpàŋgóná false acha grass, ditch millet
Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn.
A bad weed of cereal fields, it sends out runners. If
you pull it up it will leave part of the plant in the
ground to regrow.
kpuŋkpaŋkuŋmeli kpuŋkpaŋkuŋmeya tree with brittle wood that snaps easily and sends
splinters flying. No fruit. Used for firewood.
like yokayiŋga
kúgá kúgsí mahogany
Khaya senegalensis
The wood is used for mortars and the bark boiled for
medicine.
kùlchí — white water lily
Nymphaea lotus L.
probably applies to other plant spp. covering open
water
et. river + millet. Produces a small edible grain used
as a famine food or eaten by children. The fresh
leaves are ground and then applied to boils.
kùlgárlí kùlgárá small evergreen tree producing a thick shade. Animals
shelter under it. The plants interweave with one
another producing a dense mat of vegetation.
kulgoo tree
Acacia sieberiana DC. var. Villosa A. Chev.
et. ‘river-thorn’
kulima swamp morning-glory
Ipomoea aquatica Linn.
kulkarjee grass used to make bracelets
Proverb: kulkarjee ku ŋman’ baŋa. A grass bracelet
can’t resemble a real bracelet.
kùlkàrlí kùlkàrá vetiver, a grass used for plaiting hats and baskets.
11

Vetiveria nigritana (Benth.) Stapf
kù(l)`kpàryòò kù(l)`kpàryòhí drumstick tree (W.D.)
Cassia sieberiana DC
kukpalyoo (E.D.) Used to treat stomach pains.
kùlsáá kùlsáhí nut-grass
used to treat garli cattle worms
Cyperus maculatus Boeck. and Cyperus rotundus
Linn.
kultii kultihi tree
Syzygium guineense DC var. guineense
et. ‘river-tree’ The tree has strong roots and cannot be
carried away by floods. Proverb: kopaliga mali
kpioŋ, ka kultii mali woli The river may have a
strong current, but ~ has strong roots
kùlúŋgbúlùŋ kùlúŋgbúlìmà tree sp.
A tree with very pliable wood. The bark is ground up
and applied to swellings.
kuluŋkuma Tridax procumbens Linn.
Also banyoɣo
kúmbágítià kúmbágítìhì shrub usually grown near a large tree for support.
et. ‘nearby tree’
kùndùŋ bógólé kùndùŋ bógólá Cassia obtusifolia L.
Also tìkùbláákùm pierli et. ‘hyena shrine’.
kùndùŋ piém kùndùŋ piémá grass with arrow-shaped heads.
et. ‘hyena arrow’. Used for thatching and eaten by
horses.
kùndùŋ yólì kùndùŋ yóyà large toadstool
et. ‘hyena penis’
kùrù fírgínlí kùrù fírgímá shrub
lǎm Bengal bean plant, cow-itch

Mucuna pruriens
A vine with hairy pods which cause intolerable
itching on contact with the skin. If people are
gathering for a purpose you disapprove of, gather the
hairs of the pod in your palm and blow them out into
the crowd which will quickly disperse.
làŋgàndìlí làŋgàndá ? Kigelia africana
Also wóbtiâ
láŋgír´ndóò láŋgír´ndóhì herb or shrub
Aeschynome afraspera J. Leonard
Also tàbà dúgù nyûrgú. When dry the pithy stems
are collected by women to start fires. et. ‘skirt of
dawadawa tree’ – leaves resemble this tree. Children
use the stems to pretend to smoke
12

Also given as Chamaecrista mimosoides
lànjàm lànjàmà shrub sp.
see kòyém
lànjìŋá lànjìnsí tree used to make charcoal
Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub.
also nanZili
lèmú — citrus fruit (generic)
lèmú nyámí — lime tree and fruit
lìlíŋga lìlínsi African wild cherry tree and fruits
Ximenia americana Linn.
lìlínlì lìlímà fruit of the lìlíŋga tree
lìnlìríŋ lìnlìr`má wild yam used for medicine
Dioscorea lecardii De Willd.
lòòZúlí lòòZúyá globe amaranth
Gomphrena celosoides (Amaranthaceae)
also ŋonsure. Eaten by cows. Herb to 1 m. et. ‘bush-
mouse tail’
Also Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. and Sacciolepsis
africana
lùkpòɣú lùkpòrí large herb with a tuber
Amorphophallus dracontioides (Bl.) Engl.
lùŋkùŋmááŋá lùŋkùŋmánsí semi-cultivated yam with aerial tubers.
Dioscorea macroura
et. ‘fall + kill + monkey’. It is believed that when the
aerial tubers drop down, monkeys die.
M.
màlèɣú màlèrí toadstool, mushroom, fungus (generic term)

The fungus that grows on specific tree species is
describe by putting the name of the tree in front of
this word.
màmóŋmà! kpám — small herb eaten by domestic stock
Stylosanthes mucronata Willd.
et. ‘my mother denied me oil’
manci Acroceras zizanioides
see also benyoɣo tirigu
mání mábíhégè mání mábíhà shrub reaching 1.5 m. Annona glauca Schum. &
Thonn.
Also recorded as mampihege
màŋ — erect herb to 2m.
The name is also the name of a disease of children and
a medicine is made from the leaves and branches to
treat it. Before cutting the tree an offering of coins or
cola must be made.
maŋ mabele — Eclipta alba
màŋ zògòlà màŋ zògòlàhí white flower. The leaves are applied to the skin to
13

bring back its normal colour.
mbevele titoɣo Cochlospermum planchonii
mìmììŋà mìmìnsì red hog plum tree
Spondias monbin
also mùmòɣlì. Now rare in this region
mimiini mimia fruit of the red hog-plum tree
mòpèlè móɣú mòpèlè mórí tsauri grass preferred for thatching
Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov.
móɣú mórí grass, herbs, small plants (generic term)
mubane zowla Euphorbia convolvuloides Hochst. ex Benth.
mùmòɣlì mùmòɣlà Fruit of mùmòɣtia
mùmòɣtia mùmòɣtihi red hog plum tree
Spondias monbin
Also mìmììŋà. The roots are used in a decoction for
stomach trouble. The bark is used in a medicine with
other ingreditents to cure anthrax. The leaves together
with kpalga are soaked for an inahlation taken for
seven days to cure ‘whole-body’ pain.
N.
nàà náá kpórósôŋ nàà náá Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch

kpórósóŋdè
nàblí — vine with numerous tubers
the name derives from a verb meaning ‘to multiply’
and it is used in remedies that require increase. The
boiled leaves are used to bathe thin children and the
dried tuber is mixed with cereal seeds to increase the
yield.
nàgìyèm — grass with a very thin stem
et. ‘cow’s wisdom’. When a woman gives birth they
boil it in water to bathe the baby
Vernonia cinerea ?
nàɣlo!rígù nàɣlo!r´sì grass used for brooms and grazed by livestock
náɣnyóóntíà náɣnyóóntíhì tree with long slender pods
Entada africana Guill. & Perr.
Also chinceeŋa [=chíncéréŋcíŋà]. et. < náɣnyóóŋá
‘insect sp. that lands on flowers’. Used to ‘smash’ or
sour milk.
nagpuri grass sp.
nàgsàà grass
Sporobolus jacquemontii Kunth
náɣtípchèrìgà náɣtípchèr`sì jujube tree
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.
also zìŋgúlí kúkuà
nahi nyamere perennial herb of the Aneilema group
Aneilema lanceolatum Benth.
14

< F.
nam aqueous extract from empty locust pod
nansagli nansaga tiger nut
Cyperus esculentus Linn.
nansagti kpirli nansagti kpira sedge with fragrant rhizome; wild tiger nut
see bìná, yìŋ bìná, yò bìná.
nanzili nanziya tree used to make charcoal
Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub.
nargbuŋgbaŋ nargbuŋgbama grass sp. used in weaving gbala mats.
nazu West African black pepper
Piper guineense Schum. & Thonn.
nèè nèhì tree
Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir.
also sagbe
neeŋahaba tree
Pterocarpus santalinoides LHer. ex DC.
nekyembilakosebegeoto Uraria picta (Jacq.) DC
nìmbòbàlgà nìmbòbàlsì fruit or other product of daZuli (Gardenia
erubescens)
nòbìlnìnì nòbìlnìnà shrub with small, red edible fruits eaten by children
et. ‘chick’s eye’ referring to the interior of the fruit
nólóɣú kámlì wild garden-egg with thorns, not eaten
Solanum sp.
et. ‘cock’s garden-egg’
nóónìnì nóónìnà shrub with edible fruits. et. ‘hen’s eye’
see nòbìlnìnì
nòòmà bíhi!lì Euphorbia hirta L.
et. hen’s breast’ see ŋmání má bíhìlì
ŋàmpòò ŋàmpòhi tree with a light bark.

Bridelia sp.
ŋàrìŋà ŋàrìnsì black berry, black plum tree
fruits of this tree
Vitex doniana Sweet and Vitex grandifolia
The fruits are eaten and also boiled to make a sweet
drink. The young leaves can be cooked in soup.
Muslims make ink from the leaves. The bark is boiled
and added to acid water from ash and rubbed on a
sore head. A cure can be expected in three days.
ŋònsúrí ŋoŋsura shrub; the leaves of which are used as medicine for
diarrhoea.
Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss (Amaranthaceae)
Gomphrena celosoides Mart (Amaranthaceae See also
loosule
15
öM
ŋmaaŋa gumboɣri ? An erect herb or small shrub. Has the same properties
as gumboɣri but is considered to be of lesser quality.
ŋmaaŋa sinsabga ŋmaaŋa sinsabsi edible berries resembling sinsabga
ŋmááŋníŋ@ káɣú grass used for thatching
Panicum fluviicola
The fluff can fall in your eye and be quite painful. et.
‘monkey’s eye lashes’
ŋmanchee small shrub
ŋmaŋgbee calabash plant (a climber) used to make ladles
Proverb: ömaŋgbee din koŋ tia din luri gbirgbiri If
it has no tree to climb on, it falls miserably (and only
produces small, useless calabashes). Said of an orphan
(or of an old man without children).
ŋmání má bíhìlì ŋmání má bíhìhà plant with a white sap
Euphorbia hirta L.
et. ‘dove mother’s breast’. Used for children’s
medicines
ŋmanzugulaa ŋmanzugulahi plant used to cure skin rash called ŋmali.
ŋmeliŋmee ŋmeliŋmehi flower.
NY
nyaŋi tree
Acacia hockii De Willd.
also worfaa, zaŋgurum
nyèrkóbgà nyèrkóbsì plant with many bulbs used as an aphrodisiac
Vernonia guineensis Benth., vars.
This can be shortened to nyèrkówà although the
plural remains the same
nyevilpohili nyevilpoha plant with smaller leaves resembling the ?? whistle
plant.
nyímsílì nyímsà neem
Azadirachta indica
Twigs used as chewsticks. Oil from the seeds is used
to preserve stored crops.
nyòmsìlí nyòmsá lime
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.)
nyòdálí nyòdáyá tree resembling nyòò
roots and leaves used to bathe children
nyòò nyòhì copaiba balsam tree
Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. and Dalz.
Women used this as a chewstick. Known as good
firewood. The roots are boiled and drunk as a
palliative for a hernia.
16

nyulinyima basil
Ocimum basilicum
P.
pàɣ`vièlìɣù ku!shìhì — Marantochloa cuspidata (Rosc.) Milne-Redhead

kôm
et. ‘woman’s bucket [?] does not touch water’
referring to the fact that if you dip the leaves in water
they do not become soaked
pàkúrgú nyíndáá pàkúrgú nyíndáhí creeper with three-pronged thorns that are a frequent
source of bicycle punctures
et. ‘witch-tooth’
pàkúrgú pyele pàkúrgú pyele Scleria naumanniana
pálgá pálsí shrub
The roots are used to make lineament, known locally
as ‘Omega oil’. The branches are used for roofing
pàŋ̀dàm — Gladiolus sp.
The name means ‘cricket’s pito’ and is proverbial for
strange behaviour. Thus: A nyula pàŋ̀dàm yoɣu? Do
you drink cricket’s pito? i.e. are you not acting
strangely?
pàrúŋnútálí pàrúŋnútáyá medicinal grass used for horses.
piéɣú nyémàrì — plant from which string is made
Urena lobata
et. ‘sheep’s mucus’
piéláálóm piéláálómá Aristida kerstingii Pilger
et. ‘ram’s beard’
pìrìmpièlgú pìrìmpièlá tall grass used to make gbala mats
Andropogon gayanus Kunth.
pìrìŋkpáŋ pìrìŋkpáná spear grass (W.D.)
Imperata cylindrica
Also puluŋkpaŋ. This plant is very dangerous to
farmers and can easily poke out your eye.
poloponkore Melochia corchorifolia
poluole maani poluole maana Aneilema mortonii Brenan (Commelinaceae)
et. frog + okra
púhúgá púhísí tamarind
Tamarindus indica Linn.
The fruits are cured, dried and made into balls for
sale, used as a purgative and for cleaning brass
utensils.
pùhù wúnì pùrì wúnà winter thorn tree
Faidherbia albida (Del.) A Chev.
et. ‘put out leaves [in the] dry season’
pùlùmpu&ŋ pùlùmpùná tree sp.
Sterculia setigera Del.
17

The fruits and stem are burnt to make ash used in
bochaa and soap. The fresh leaves drive away live
from poultry.
púmpónchíà púmpónchíhì shrub and its edible fruit
Strychnos spinosa Lam.
Also gìngàtìá
púútársàlì púútársàlà shrub sp. used to mark farm boundaries
S.
sáá sáhí grass used to bind together other grasses in mats etc.
Sporobolus subglobosus A. Chev.
Also nausaa
sààbìrlì sáábrá ‘wild kenaf
Hibiscus sp.
et. rain + kenaf
sáápíríwá — leaves of edible shrub with light pink flowers, used in
soup.
sááyámbúlì sááyámbúyà small plant, sensitive to the touch.
Phyllanthus pentandrus
et. rain + come + beat + you. The children sing ‘saa
kana, saa kana // kpabmaa soŋ’ ‘rain is coming, rain
is coming // roll your mat’ and then touch the leaves.
sálínvógú sálínvórí herb frequently used in soup, sometimes planted in
the farm
Corchorus aestuans L.
the seeds are called sálínvóZì
sambaŋ kana Small herb with yellow flowers used as a broom
? Sida acreta
Also bulasam
sámpééŋá sámpéénsí Crossopteryx febrifuga
sàŋkáŋlè sàNkáNá shrub
Physalis angulata L.
sáŋkpántiégù sáŋkpántièrè tree whose roots are used as a remedy for crawcraw or
scabies.
sàwèní sàwèná shrub
bowstring hemp
Sansevieria liberica Gér. & Labr.
selem vɔɣɔ Hydrolea palustris
shèɣù shèrì tree
Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) O. Ktze.
also yokaɣalaŋga [=yookaŋga]. The branches are
strong and insect-resistant and so are used for roofing.
The fibre is used to weave baskets. The leaves are
used for animal fodder.
shii tree like a silver birch. The branches are used for
rafters
18

shììyà shìhì tree
Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr.
The leaves, together with korli are used to treat
diarrhoea
shǐm shìmá Indigofera sp.
shindazugu shindazugri physic nut
Jatropha curcas
False castor oil plant, used for hedges; leaves are used
for dressing guinea-worm swellings. The twigs are
used as chewsticks.
sìlìmììn tìkpùlákùm tree, recently introduced
Cassia sp.
sìmbòglá — see wòrsímlí
sìnsàbgà sìnsàbsì tree with edible fruits
Lannea acida A. Rich.
The leaves are used to feed animals. Boiled roots are
used to make a fluid to seal floors and walls. The
roots are used to make a rope. The bark is used to
make a medicine for children with sores on the
stomach or anus.
sínsábgbétìlgà sínsábgbétìlsì trees of the Lannea group
Lannea barteri (Oliv.) Engl. or Lannea nigritana (Sc.
Elliot) Keay
sìnsàblì sìnsàbà fruit of sìnsàbgà (Lannea acida)
sínsábpiègù sínsábpièrì tree
Lannea velutina A. Rich
síɣírìlì síɣírà tree
Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms
sòɣláhígú sòɣláhísí small tree
sòɣlákábgá sòɣláhíbsí wild plant with small edible brown berries
Eugenia subherbacea A. Chev.
Fadogia agrestis Schweinf.
soko tiɣo Echinocloa obtusiflora
sòsó sòsó loofah
Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) M.J. Roem.
< H. Sold in the market as a bathing sponge
sùín — horse grass.
súsúɣ´rà súsúrílì Securinega virosa (Roxb.) Baill.
T.
táánì támá shea fruit

tááŋà táánsì shea tree
Vitellaria paradoxa
Also see under kpííŋà
tàbà dúgù nyûrgú ~ nyûrsí Aeschynome afraspera J. Leonard
et. tobacco + pipe + smokable. Children use the stems
19

to pretend to smoke
tàɣímá — any grass used as bedding for animals
tákpárígá lóòrì Cochlospermum planchoni Hook. f
(Cochlospermaceae)
tàŋkòrò tàŋkòrtì false yam
Icacina senegalensis A. Juss. or I. oliviformis ?
Its presence is regarded as a good indicator for the
successful yam cultivation, although the tuber is not
eaten as it is elsewhere in Africa.
táŋkórígbàlì — tuber of tàŋkòrò
tàntéé tàntéhí short grass, particularly good for grazing. Found close
to the house
tàŋjìbga tàŋjìbsì tree with a scarlet blossom whose roots are made into
a sponge used to wash corpses
Erythrina senegalensis DC acc. to CIPSEG
táríŋgúlì táríŋgúyà herb whose corm or tuber is used for medicine
Curculigo pilosa (Schum. & Thonn.) Engl.
et. ‘simple man’s cola’. Also kòrìnchí But also
defined as: tree, the twigs of which are chewed.
tìá tìhí tree, shrub, epiphyte (general term)
tìbéé tìbéhí general term for all trees, such as gaa, tua and nyoo,
believed to shelter spirits
tìkùbláákùm pierli Cassia obtusifolia L.
Also kùndùŋ bógólé
tìkùbláákùm sabinle Cassia occidentalis L.
tìŋkpám tìŋkpámá shrub with white leaves and flowers
et. ‘ground-oil’ The oily tuber is boiled up to make
medicine for waist pains and impotence.
probably Sesbania sesban (Linn.) Merrill
tìpièlgá tìpièlsí leguminous tree with a mass of mauve blossoms.
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.
see zúgúbétiâ
tìtáblí tìtábà general term to describe the entwining of two
different species of trees or herbs
tìzòó tìzòhí parasite, mistletoe
Perhaps generic for these plants. Proverb: tìzòó ku
zin tiŋa mistletoe never sits on the ground i.e we are
all naturally gregarious
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser
tohabagiŋgu tohabagima or shrub or small tree used for medicine
tohabaginsi Bauhinia rufescens Lam.
toli bindi Melanthera scandens
tùá tùhí baobab
Adansonia digitata
The leaves are eaten in soup, the flesh of the pods can
be eaten and the seeds can be roasted and made into a
paste for flavouring.
tùɣú tùrí baobab pod
20

tùchí — gall on baobab tree
tùkáɣú tùkárí fresh baobab leaves used for soup.
tùkáríkúmá — dried and pounded baobab leaves
tùkpíllì tùkpílà baobab seeds
cf. tùá
V.
va!bgà va!bsì red-flowered silk-cotton tree

Bombax buonopozense P. Beauv.
The lint is collected for pillows and the leaves cut to
feed animals. The mistletoe growing on this tree has
important magical uses, being included in a medicine
used to start quarrels in the household. Farmers do not
like to cultivate under it because the land is infertile.
The bark is burnt to make a smoke that drives away
aliZini spirits. The thorns are burnt and the charcoal
resulting is mixed with butter to treat a swollen body.
The dried gum is used for scent.
vàvàyí — Trianthema portulacastrum
plant with soft leaves that lies on the ground, found
around compounds, eaten by insects
W.
wàlàpùgú wàlàpùrí Shrub growing on exhausted land whose roots are

used as medicine. The latex is used to sour milk when
making cheese.
Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. f.
wálì wálà generic term for fruit
wàrfáá Acacia dudgeoni Craib
Also góóziê
wàrpálúgú — Small herb with large leaves that stick to clothing.
Can be used as horse-fodder.
wáwá — climbing plant
Cyphostemma adenocaulis
Cissus gracilis
wóbsílì wóbsà shrub used for sweeping the floor. Used in children’s
medicine
wóbtiâ wóbtíhì ? Kigelia africana
literally ‘elephant tree’. Also làŋgàndìlí
wòɣmòɣù wòɣmòrì vine whose leaves are boiled to cure convulsions in
children
wokpane Monechma ciliatum
wòlfáá wòlfáhí thorn tree with light wood used by carpenters for
21

door-frames and to carve walking-sticks. The trees
can form a tangled thicket on abandoned farms
Acacia gourmaensis A. Chev.
Acacia hockii De Willd.
Also nyaŋi, záŋgúrúm
wòrkáríwáná wòrkáríwání horse grass. see yihim
et. ‘horse maize’
wòrsímlí wòrsímá herbs growing on waste land, often stored as hay for
horses and commonly eaten by sheep
et. ‘horse groundnut’. Also sìmbòglá
Zornia glochidiata Reichb. and
Alysicarpus ovalifolius (Schum. & Thon.) J Léonard
wùblím striga
witchweed
Striga hermontheca (Del.) Benth. and probably other
spp. such as S. brachycalyx
a weed on guinea corn of major economic importance.
Also bòcháá
wúúnlìɣrì — small herb of waste land and wet places
Pandiaka involucrata (Moq) Hook f.
(Amaranthaceae)
et. ‘dry season money’. A month after the rains cease
it produces abundant white flowers and is taken as a
signal there will be no more rain.
Y.
yábgà yábsì plant from which arrow-poison is made.

Strophanthus hispidus
yìhím yìhímá grass sp. fed to horses.
Setaria pallide fusca (Schumach.) Stapf & C.E.
Hubbard
Also given as Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf.
and Ischaemum rugosum
yìnyàŋ — grass that can be a weed of ricefields
Rottboelia cochinchinensis (Lour.) WD Clayton
yìŋ bìná sedge with fragrant rhizome
see bìná, nansagti kpirli. This is the type planted
around the house. The powerful smell is intended to
repel evil spirits.
yírígínlí yírígímá plant with a bulbous root that can be eaten raw as
medicine. The sap may be expressed from the tuber as
medicine.
yò bìná — sedge with fragrant rhizome
see bìná, nansagti kpirli. This is the type growing in
the bush as opposed to yìŋ bìná (q.v.).
22

yògrlí yògrá Creeper whose fruits are used for tanning leather
? Adenopus breviflorus
yokaɣalaŋga yokaɣalansi tree
Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) O. Ktze.
hardy wood roots used for medicine. The wood burns
very fiercely on the fire
also sámpééŋá
yókpa!lí yókpa!lá shrub with edible fruit
Securidaca longepedunculata Fres.
similar to kpalga
yòlgá yòlsí tree used by beer brewers
Grewia mollis Juss.
yo naazuwa Allophylus africanus P. de Beauv.
et. ‘bush-pepper’
yòtùŋá yòtùnsí vine with large leaves
Cissus palmatifida (Bak.) Planch (Ampelidaceae)
yúlèŋgá tábélè yúlèŋgá tábélà Combretum nigricans Lepr. ex Guill. & Perr.
yùríŋà yùrínsì shrub
Combretum cinereipetalum ssp. geitonophyllum
(Diels) Okafor and Combretum molle R. Br. ex G.Don
used to make yam-sticks and for firewood
yùríŋ kóŋà yùríŋ kóŋsì shrub. Combretum sp.
et. ‘leper’s Combretum’. Used for firewood. The roots
are ground and applied to sores.
Z.
zààŋkùŋá zààŋkùnsí tree with very brittle wood which can throw off
dangerous splinters
Ficus sp.
zàblìgá zàblísí henna
Lawsonia inermis L.
often grown by women and used as a hedge-plant in
farms
záhíŋkólóɣù záhíŋkólórí grass sp. used for roofing.
Hyparrhenia rufa
zálínzáá zálínzáhí grass sp. like balimgbini
Indigofera sp. acc. to CIPSEG
zàŋkùgá zàŋkùŋsí African wild cherry tree and fruits
Ximenia americana Linn.
záŋgúrúm záŋgúrúmá Acacia hockii De Wild.
see wòlfáá
zárlí — Anchomanes welwitschii Rendle
zòkúɣá — moss used to dress sores on cows and sheep
zòlínlì zòlímà climber of the mulberry family yielding a coarse fibre,
used in dressing sores.
zólkúrìgù zólkúrà Entada africana Guill. & Perr.
23

also chínchééŋà
see náɣnyóóntíà
zòmíá zòmíhí parasite that lies over a tree without visible attachment
zúgúbétiâ zúgúbétíhì tree producing profuse mauve and pink blossoms in
the dry season; the roots are used to treat gonorrhoea.
This tree is generally considered to the abode of the
kpukparsi sprites and thus it is forbidden to cut it for
firewood. The wood should never be brought to the
house, though fallen branches can be used to roast
food in the farm.
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.
Also tìpièlgá
zùŋgúlí kúkuà zùŋgúlí kúkùhì jujube tree
see náɣtípchèrìgà
zúúŋkwîn — hard locust (dawadawa) seed, that has not softened in
boiling.
zúúnì zúná dry seeds of the locust (dawadawa) pods.
Zègólì Zègóyá tree sp. whose roots are used as a medicine

Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (Celastraceae)
Zìnyùrìgù Zìnyùrsì haemorrhage plant
creeping weed used to staunch blood flows. et. ‘blood
+ drinker’
Aspilia africana (Pers) C.D. Adams
But UPTWA, II,IV gives Portulaca foliosa
QUERIES
agbadudu [?] leaves of an edible shrub with light pink flowers, used
in soup. also sààpìrèwà
aneta Croton lobatus
bakpa Elaeis guineensis
balinyiri [?] thistles of the Centaurea group
bamrog ditch millet Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn.
biyebingira Bitterleaf Vernonia colorata (Willd.) Drake
biyengawu Ampelocissus bombycina (Amaryllidaceae)
boboroa An annual herb growing on waste ground,
occasionally cultivated. The leaves are eaten in a
sauce. Green amaranth Amaranthus viridis Linn.
boŋ kapala tree Parinari curatellifolia Planch. Also
papalatutubu
buruguni shrubs of the Tephrosia group sometimes used as fish-
poisons Tephrosia flexuosa G Don, T. platycarpa
Guil. & Perr.
dalaNgbini ?
24

dandoŋgunle Mollugo nudicaulis Lam.
deborisaa Aspilia africana (Pers) C.D. Adams
diesima Commelina africana (L.) Also fulumfulaa
duo ngeman Hyptis suaveolens Poit.
gundosollo yam bean Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A
Rich.) Harms
hunglade annual herb Monechma ciliatum (Jacq.)
MilneRedhead
jehi raffia also kpari
jeŋgbiringa jeŋbirinsi tree with edible fruits
kpalaŋa kpala tree Afzelia Africana Sm. also kpaŋguli
krosima tree Cynometra vogelii Hook. f.
kulkpalsogo
kulu dirigo vine with edible fruits Saba sp.
kumdandar Borreria radiata DC
larapiri tree Maranthes polyandra (Benth.) Prance
lér΄gínlí lérgúmá ?
leŋgerigoŋgo tree Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.
namihyi tanguwa Ludwigia hyssopifolia (G Don) Exell
nanZido tree Amblygonocarpus andongensis (Oliv.) Exell &
Torre
narga tree African myrrh Commiphora africana (A. Rich.)
Engl. var. africana
nchendua woody herb. The plant is boiled, mixed with peppers
and used as a vaginal douche in the later stages of
pregnancy to ease childbirth pains. Asystasia
gangetica (Linn.) T. Anders.
ŋodolega liana Dalbergia saxatilis Hook. f.
ŋgurun shrub or small tree marabou thorn Dichrostachys
cinerea (Linn.) Wight & Arn.
nyera Acacia macrostachya Reichenb. ex Benth. also
garinyini
nyírgínlí nyírgúmá ?
pagretega Marantochloa cuspidata (Rosc.) Milne Redhead Also
kushihi kom
pampiga herb with woody stem Excoecaria grahamii Stapf or
Sapium grahamii Prain
papalatutubu tree Parinari curatellifolia Planch. Also boŋ kapala
powanyakruga zuperi annual herb growing on waste ground Pandiaka
heudelotii (Moq.) Hook f. Also barimbini
sagbe tree Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir.
sansaŋwa thorny shrub Capparis tomentosa Lam.
sumbie Heeria insignis (Del.) O. Ktze (Anacardiaceae)
tachale tree Combretum spp. inc. Combretum fragrans F.
Hoffman
tauai herb or shrub used for indigo dye Indigofera sp.
trindobaga shrub used for chewsticks Eriosema griseum Bak.
ukpali Trailing plant Ipomoea argentaurata Hallier f.
25

ulaŋkwana tree with edible fruit Annona senegalensis Pers.
worbaŋli wild beans, used for feeding horses.
wookpargu Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC Also yolega
yokharaugu shrub and edible Strychnos fruit Strychnos spinosa
Lam.
zuguli koŋa tree Entada africana Guill. & Perr.
26

Dagomba Tree Names

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DAGOMBA PLANT NAMES

[PRELIMINARY CIRCULATION DRAFT FOR COMMENT]

Cambridge, 19 May, 2006

5. USES AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS.................................................................VI

6. DAGOMBA VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION ...........................................................................VI

7. FURTHER WORK ............................................................................................................................ VII

ED Eastern or Yendi Dialect

Dagbani has six vowels;

Front Central Back

Table 1 shows how to convert these characters to those used here;

Table 1. Vowel conversion table

The consonants are as follows;

Bilabial Labio-dental Alveolar Alveopalata Palata Velar Labial-velar

There are two level tones and downstep, marked as follows;

DAGBANI DOES NOT HAVE A WRITING SYSTEM AGREED BY

Transcriptions in ethnobotanical sources

5. Uses and cultural importance of Plants

6. Dagomba vegetation classification

Table 2. Dagomba classification of vegetation

bín-wóndà any plant which has fruits above ground

Singular Plural Gloss

àlépèlè bìndì herb of wasteland

bàdàlí bàdàyá vine with a large underground tuber

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

chenchen dibga Kohautia senegalensis

dàbgà dábsí shrub fed to horses

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

gàà gàhí ebony tree

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

jàŋ kúnón nyúlì Boerhavia coccinea Mill.

káá káhí edible shrub, with white flowers.

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

lǎm Bengal bean plant, cow-itch

Singular Plural Gloss

màlèɣú màlèrí toadstool, mushroom, fungus (generic term)

Singular Plural Gloss

nàà náá kpórósôŋ nàà náá Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch

Singular Plural Gloss

ŋàmpòò ŋàmpòhi tree with a light bark.

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

pàɣ`vièlìɣù ku!shìhì — Marantochloa cuspidata (Rosc.) Milne-Redhead

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

táánì támá shea fruit

Singular Plural Gloss

Singular Plural Gloss

va!bgà va!bsì red-flowered silk-cotton tree

wàlàpùgú wàlàpùrí Shrub growing on exhausted land whose roots are

Singular Plural Gloss

yábgà yábsì plant from which arrow-poison is made.

Singular Plural Gloss