If you look on my 'pubications' page, you'll see quite a few relating to Lake Naivasha in Kenya; that was my field site for my Ph.D. and while out there, I started taking an inteerst in all things Maasai, including a litttle ethnobotany...
The Maasai differentiate many plants, especially those which are edible, medicinal or useful in construction. Although most Maa names relate well to particular species, and especially to the level of genus, some cover more than one, whilst as in any language some species have more than one name. There is also variation by area and dialect. Some of the scientific names given may have been superseded, and there are likely to be a few errors from the source material, but this is as accurate a list as I have been able to compile so far - and there will hopefully be updates which expand upon the material, and correct errors which are identified. Maa names may vary a little in spelling (especially as many were derived phonetically from oral sources originally), and the language is tonal, but the most common spellings are given. The notes give brief details of English names, broad plant type, and usage, where known. The families are abbreviated as per the list below (for column space).
Abbreviations of families
A = Asteraceae
Aa = Arecaceae
Ac = Acanthaceae
Ad = Asphodelaceae
Ae = Apiaceae
Ah = Achariaceae
Al = Araliaceae
Am = Amaryllidaceae
An = Anacardiaceae
Ap = Asparagaceae
Ar = Amaranthaceae
As = Asclepiadaceae
At = Anthericaceae
Ay = Apocynaceae
B = Boraginaceae
Bi = Bignoniaceae
Bu = Burseraceae
Ca = Capparaceae
Cb = Combretaceae
Cc = Colchicaceae
Cl = Celestraceae
Co = Commelinaceae
Cn = Canellaceae
Cr = Crassulaceae
Cs = Clusiaceae
Cu = Cupressaceae
Cv = Convolvulaceae
E = Euphorbiaceae
Eb = Ebenaceae
Er = Ericaceae
F = Fabaceae
G = Geraniaceae
H = Hypoxidaceae
Ha = Hamamelidaceae
Hy = Hyacinthaceae
I = Iridaceae
L = Liliaceae
La = Lamiaceae
M = Myrtaceae
Me = Meliaceae
Mo = Moraceae
Mr = Myricaceae
Mv = Malvaceae
My = Myrsinaceae
O = Oxalidaceae
Oc = Ochnaceae
Ol = Oleaceae
On = Oliniaceae
P = Polygonaceae
Pd = Podocarpaceae
Pe = Pedalianaceae
Ph = Phyllanthaceae
Po = Poaceae
Pp = Papilionoidae
Pr = Proteaceae
R = Ranunculaceae
Rc = Ruscaceae
Rh = Rhamnaceae
Ro = Rosaceae
Rt = Rutaceae
Ru = Rubiaceae
S = Solanaceae
Sa = Sapindaceae
Sc = Scrophulariaceae
Sl = Salicaceae
Sn = Santalaceae
St = Stilbaceae
Sv = Salvadoraceae
T = Tiliaceae
U = Ulmaceae
Ur = Urticaceae
V = Vitaceae
Ve = Verbenaceae
Z = Zygophyllaceae
Za = Zamiaceae
References
- Beentje, H.J. (1994). Kenya Trees, Shrubs and Lianas. National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.
- Blundell, M. (1987). Wild Flowers of East Africa. HarperCollins, London.
- Louppe, D., Oteng-Amoako, A.A. & Brink, M. (eds.) (2008). Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 7(1). Timbers 1. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- Mol, F. (1996). Maasai Language & Culture Dictionary. Maasai Centre, Limek.
- Orwa, C., Mutua, A., Kindt, R., Jamnadass, R. & Simons, A. (2009). Agroforestree Database: a Tree Reference and Selection Guide. Version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/) [accessed 19/11/2010].
Species | Family | Maa name | Notes |
Abutilon longicuspe | Mv | o-supukiai o-ibor | shrub |
Acacia abyssinica | F | o-lentarara OR ol-tarara | the-one-of-the-acacia-tree' |
Acacia albida | F | ol-asiti OR o-lerai | apple-ring acacia |
Acacia arabica | F | ol-kiloriti | tree with medicinal/digestive bark |
Acacia brevispica | F | ol-girgiri | wait-a-bit tree |
Acacia drepanolobium | F | ol-kine lo luai OR e-luai OR e-merumori OR e-ronkan | whistling thorn; black-galled acacia; ant-galled acacia |
Acacia gerrardii | F | ol-ngongnenyi | tree |
Acacia lahai | F | ol-tepesi | red-thorn tree |
Acacia mellifera | F | e-melelek OR o-iti | black thorn acacia |
Acacia merkeri | F | ol-depe | tree |
Acacia nilotica – as A. arabica | F | ||
Acacia nubica – as A. merkeri | F | ||
Acacia pennata – as A. brevispica | F | ||
Acacia reficiens | F | ol-curai o-ibor | white acacia |
Acacia robusta | F | ol-curai | umbrella tree, fuel wood |
Acacia senegal | F | ol-derkesi | Sudan gum arabic |
Acacia seyal | F | ol-garroji OR ol-tepesi OR o-leregat OR o-lerai | red-thorn tree |
Acacia tortilis | F | ol-gorete | umbrella thorn acacia; Israeli babool |
Acacia xanthophloea | F | o-lerai | fuel wood, medicinal |
Acanthus eminens | Ac | ol-digeldi | |
Achyranthes aspera | Ar | o-lekidongo | medicinal herb; 'it-of-the-tails'; prickly chaff flower; devil's horsewhip |
Achyrospermum schimperi | La | en-tapa oo nk-ayiok | medicinal herb |
Acokanthera schimperi | Ay | ol-morijoi | poison arrow tree; 'the-red-one', the same term for a senior warrior |
Adansonia digitata | Mv | o-lemisira OR ol-mesera OR ol-mesasu | baobab |
Agathisanthemum bojeri | Ru | wualasekirai | shrub, white flowers |
Agauria salicifolia | Er | ol-ogumati | shrub/tree |
Albizia anthelmintica | F | e-mokotan | tree/bush; antihelminthis properties |
Albizia gummifera | F | o-soroge | tree; medicinal bark |
Albizia harveyi | F | ol-murmur | tree/bush, white flowers; edible pods, leaf browse |
Anthericum cameronii | At | ol-keriantus | lily |
Anthericum subpetiolatum – as A. cameronii | |||
Asparagus africanus | Ap | em-pere e papa OR ol-omeei OR e-ngebol | ‘spear of my father’; medicinal |
Balanites aegyptica | Z | e-ngosua | desert-date |
Balanites glabra | Z | o-saragi | tree |
Barleria sp. – as Hypoestes aristata | |||
Bauhinia purpurea | F | o-sagorarami | camel-foot tree; orchid tree; butterfly tree |
Blumea sp. | A | en-kipire e kima | ‘stirrer of fire’; medicinal |
Bridelia micrantha | Ph | ol-airowuai | tree; timber, medicinal |
Buddleja polystachya | Sc | ol-piron o-ibor | shrub/tree |
Bulbine abyssinica | Ad | o-riroi | medicinal herb |
Cajanus cajan | F | en-giun | pigeon-pea |
Calodendrum capense | Rt | ol-arashi | cape chestnut; cosmetic oil |
Capparis cartilaginea | Ca | ol-aturdeei | shrub |
Capparis tomentosa | Ca | ol-aturrudiai | woolly caper bush |
Caralluma dummeri | Ay | e-mukutioi | succulent, purple flowers; medicinal |
Carissa spinarum | Ay | ol-aimuriaki | conkerberry; bush plum |
Catha edulis | Cl | ol-miraa | miraa, khat, somali tea; stimulant |
Chaetacme aristata | U | ol-morogi le uaso | river kei-apple |
Chloris gayana | Po | leporori isiet | Rhodes-grass |
Chloris roxburghiana | Po | ol-peresi | horsetail grass |
Chlorophytum macrophyllum | At | en-kipai | white flowers |
Cissus rotundifolia | V | ol-airai | Venezeulan treebine; Arabian was cissus |
Clausena anisata | Rt | e-matasia | Matasia bush; medicinal |
Clausena inaequalis – as C. anisata | |||
Clematis brachiata – as Clematis hirsuta | |||
Clematis hirsuta | R | ol-kirrusha | medicinal |
Clerodendrum ugandense | Ve | ol-makotokot | butterfly bush; blue butterfly flower |
Clitoria ternatea | F | ol-gisoyiaki | butterfly pea; medicinal |
Clutia kilimandscharica | E | ol-kirpanyani | bush/shrub; medicinal |
Combretum molle | Cb | em-bughoi OR ol-bukoi OR ol-maroroi | Combretum tree; medicinal |
Commelina benghalensis – as Cyanotis arachnoidea | |||
Commiphora africana | Bu | o-silalei | commiphore; gum (possibly bdellium) tree |
Commiphora sp. | Bu | ol-bili | tree/shrub |
Conyzanewii eliotii – as Microglossa eliotii | |||
Cordia ovalis | B | o-seki OR ol-molosi | sandpaper tree |
Cordia quercifolia | B | ol-dorko | tree; medicinal |
Crateva adansonii | Ca | o-lokordodai | garlic pear; three-leaf caper; obtuse-leaved crateva |
Crinum crinum papillosum – as Crinum macowanii | |||
Crinum macowanii | Am | ol-awashi | amaryllis |
Crossandra nilotica | Ac | en-kisarngatuny | red flowers |
Crotalaria lachnocarpoides | F | e-noo-n-tualau | ‘the one of the little bells’; Fire-bush |
Crotalaria polysperma | F | e-suputiyiai na-rok | Black duck-pea |
Croton dichogamus | E | en-kitarru OR ol-okir-dingai | orange-leaved croton |
Croton megalocarpus | E | ol-oiborbenek OR ol-ngergoit | ‘that of the white leaves’ |
Cyanotis arachnoidea | Co | enk-aiteteyiai | spiderwort; dayflower; wandering jew; zebgrass |
Cyathula uncinulata | Ar | ol-airepirepi | scrambling; medicinal |
Cycnium tubulosum | Sc | ol-oiropij loosirkon | small white flowers |
Cynodon dactylon | Po | ol-murua | Bermuda-grass, kweek |
Cyphostemma orondo | V | ol-orondoi | cicus, climber |
Datura stramonium | S | en-abooi OR ol-paleki | jimson weed; thorn apple |
Delonix elata | F | ol-tangoringori | tree |
Delphinium macrocentrum | R | ol-oilusi | wild larkspur; medicinal (alkaloids) |
Dolichos lablab | F | ol-bomboi | hyacinth bean |
Dombeya dawei | Mv | e-noo-supukia OR o-suputiai OR o-suputiyiai | it-of-the-dombeya-dawei-trees' (place name); specific name of unknown status |
Dovyalis abyssinica | Sl | ol-morogi | kei-apple; kashun (fruit) |
Echinops hispidus | A | ol-omureki o-nyori | herb |
Ehretia cymosa | B | en-dalati e kutuk | tree; ‘the heat of the mouth’ |
Elaeodendron buchananii | Cl | o-soket | tree |
Eleusine jaegeri | Po | o-lekimbe | manyata-grass |
Embeli kilimandscharia | E | ol-canionyokie | ‘red tree’; medicinal. The genus is unknown but may refer to Macaranga kilimandscharica |
Encephalartos bubalinus | Za | ol-parluai | cycad; bread palm |
Encephalartos hildebrandtii – as E. bubalinus | |||
Encephalartos regulaneus | Za | ol-piruai | cycad; bread palm |
Erlangea tomentosa | A | em-beneyioi pus | medicinal |
Erythrina abyssinica | F | ol-kirikiti OR ol-oponi OR ol-goroshe | flame tree; lucky bean Tree; red-hot poker tree |
Erythrina burtii | F | ol-ngarroji | lucky bean tree |
Erythrina tomentosa – as E. abyssinica | |||
Euclea divinorum | Eb | ol-cani orok OR o-loonaraan OR o-sojo | ‘black tree’; used in milk treatment |
Euclea keniensis – as E. divinorum | |||
Euclea schimperi | Eb | ol-kinyei | Maba-tree |
Euphorbia candelabrum | E | ol-popongi | Candelabra tree |
Euphorbia gossypina | E | ol-oilei-orok | black euphorbia |
Euphorbia polyacantha | E | ol-okuroi | |
Euphorbia robecchii | E | ol-caketai | candelabra-like |
Euphorbia schimperi | E | ol-coki | |
Euphorbia splendens | E | o-lokirosio | crown-of-thorns |
Euphorbia tirucalli | E | ol-oile oibor | finger/rubber hedge euphorbia; firestick plant; 'sticks on fire'; milk bush. medicinal |
Euryops sp. – as Felicia muricata | |||
Faurea saligna | Pr | ol-gerian OR ol-orte | timber tree |
Felicia muricata | A | e-ngunoni | blue/yellow flowers; medicinal |
Ficus capensis | Mo | enk-oponi | fig |
Ficus gnaphalocarpa | Mo | o-reteti | fig |
Ficus mucosa & F. natalensis – as F. gnaphalocarpa | |||
Ficus sycomorus | Mo | ol-ngaboli OR o-reteti | fig |
Flacourtia indica | o-leleroi | tree | |
Foeniculum vulgare | Ae | ol-aimomoyai | wild fennel; species uncertain given in Mol (1996) as Diplocopium africanum which is invalid |
Galium aparinoides | Ru | o-lenkeriantus | medicinal |
Garcinia livingstonei | Cs | ol-kipulua | African mangosteen |
Gardenia jovis-tonantis | Ru | geninyet OR ol-takurikuriet | medicinal; may be a subsp. Of G. ternifolia |
Gerbera piloselloida | A | e-leleshua na-ibor | medicinal |
Gladiolus watsonioides | I | e-sakutiek | |
Gloriosa superba | Cc | ol-oniyiai | flame lily |
Gomphocarpus semilunatus | As | en-tiakuleti | dagoreti (purplish flowers) |
Grewia bicolor | Mv | o-siteti | plane-tree |
Grewia similis | Mv | o-iri | shrub/tree |
Grewia villosa | Mv | ol-mangulai | shrub |
Grumilea excerta – as Psychotria flexinervata | |||
Grumilea lauracea | Ru | ol-cartuyian | medicinal |
Guizotia reptans | A | en-koyiapasei | yellow flowers; medicinal |
Guizotia sp. | A | ol-boi | creeper; species schultzil given by Mol (1996) is invalid |
Gutenbergia fischeri – as Lantana camara | |||
Haemanthus multiflorus | Am | ol-angunguai OR ol-todoyioki | fireball lily; blood lily |
Hebenstretia angolensis | Sc | e-ngotarakwai | white/orange flowers |
Hebenstretia dentata – as H. angolensis | |||
Helichrysum setosum | A | e-leleshua e nkop | |
Hibiscus aponeuris | Mv | angarare | |
Hibiscus sp. | Mv | en-karane | species flavofolius given by Mol (1996) is invalid |
Hyphaene coriacea | Aa | ol-piro | palm |
Hypoestes aristata | Ac | ol-osida | ribbon bush, purple haze |
Hypoxis obtusa | H | en-karmalashei | yellow flowers; medicinal |
Indigofera lupatana | F | en-koroye OR e-min | shrub, used for arrow-shafts |
Indigofera swaziensis – as I. lupatana | |||
Ipomoea cairica | Cv | ol-ngerioi | coast morning glory |
Jasminum floribundum | Ol | ol-opito | wild jasmine; medicinal |
Juniperus procera | Cu | ol-tarakuai | pencil-cedar; African juniper |
Justicia betonica – as Hypoestes aristata | |||
Justicia brandegeane – as J. diclipteroides | |||
Justicia diclipteroides | Ac | e-sonkoyo | shrimp-plant; medicinal |
Kalanchoe lugardii | Cr | e-masiligi | |
Kigelia africana | Bi | ol-darpoi | sausage-tree (fruit) |
Kigelia pinnata – as K. africana | |||
Kleinia squarrosa | A | e-naingongunndero | ‘that which the rats smell’; purple flower |
Lantana camara | Ve | ol-makirikiriane | tick-berry; poisonous |
Lantana salvifolia | Ve | en-kayakuji OR ol-magirigiriana | woody shrub; medicinal |
Lantana trifolia – as L. salvifolia | |||
Leonotis nepetifolia | La | em-bibiai | sunbird flower; lion’s ear. medicinal |
Lippia javanica | Ve | o-reitai OR en-kireitai | fever tea; medicinal |
Lippia sp. | Ve | o-sinoni | bush; species specialis given by Mol (1996) invalid |
Lippia ukambensis – as L. javanica | |||
Maerua johannis | Ca | ol-amaloki | tree |
Maerua parvifolia | Ca | ol-oirerioi | shrub |
Maesa lanceolata | My | o-reteti OR ol-oduai OR ol-onorua | tree/bush |
Maytenus heterophylla | Cl | ol-aimurunyi | thorny tree |
Maytenus senegalensis | Cl | ol-o-do-nganayioi | confetti tree; ‘that of the red fruit’ |
Maytenus undata – as M. heterophylla | |||
Microglossa eliotii | A | ol-abai le partulo | tree |
Microglossa pyrifolia | A | ol-abai o-ibor | tree |
Monsonia augustiflora | G | em-beneyioi | bush |
Myrica kilimandscharia | Mr | ol-kitalasua | tree/shrub |
Myrica salicifolia – as M. kilimandscharia | |||
Mystroxylon aethiopica | Cl | o-lodonganayioi | tree |
Nuxia congesta | St | ol-piron o-rok | shrub/tree |
Obetia radula | Ur | ol-nokoret | Stinging Nettle Tree |
Ochna merkeri | Oc | natuaina | shrub/tree; ‘that of the dead branch’ |
Ocimum kilimandscharicum | La | o-lemurran | bush/tree |
Ocimum lamiifolium | La | ol-oisamis | woody shrub |
Olea africana | Ol | ol-oirien | brown/wild olive |
Olea capensis | Ol | o-loliontoi OR ol-giloni | Elgon olive |
Olea hochstetteri & O. welwitschii – as O. capensis | |||
Olinia sp. | On | ol-tiasimpol | tree; species specialis given by Mol (1996) invalid |
Olinia usambarensis | On | ol-kirenye | tree/bush |
Ornithogalum ecklonii – as O. tenuifolium | |||
Ornithogalum tenuifolium | H | ol-kine | ‘he-goat’ plant |
Orthosiphon pallidus | La | ol-aitedarai | medicinal |
Osyris compressa | Sn | ol-oisesiai | tree/shrub; a sandalwood |
Oxalis obliquifolia | O | enk-aisiijoi | |
Ozoroa insignis | An | o-lokunonoi | tree; medicinal |
Pappea capensis | Sa | natua-enkongu OR en-korrirri OR ol-timigomi OR ol-kisikongu | tree; ‘that of the dead eye’ |
Pavonia gallaensis | Mv | o-supukia e kop | shrub, yellow flowers |
Pavonia urens | Mv | o-supukiai o-rok | shrub |
Pelargonium sp. | G | ol-keri | cranesbill |
Pennisetum mazianum | Po | ol-o-gor oingok | bamboo-grass; ‘that which strangles the bulls’ |
Pennisetum stramineum | Po | o-sankash | wire grass |
Pentanisia ouranogyne | Ru | kelaku olker | small blue flowers |
Pentas decora | Ru | ol-cororiet OR o-lepepedo | ‘the one of the scabies’ |
Pentas longiflora – as Tagetes minuta | |||
Phareobus radiatus | F | ol-gumuri | bean (binomial name given by Mol (1996) invalid & family assumed from the description as a bean) |
Pistacia terebinthus | An | ol-maloni | Terebinth tree (medicinal, turpentine, food) |
Plectranthus lactiflorus | La | o-rinka lo l-kaldes | herb; ‘brown monkey’s club’ |
Podocarpus gracilior | Pd | ol-piripiri | coniferous tree |
Podocarpus latifolius | Pd | en-koile | yellow-wood tree (conifer) |
Podocarpus milanjianus | Pd | ol-cani le nkai OR ol-cani le kule OR o-sinandei | ‘Tree of God/Rain’ (conifer) |
Premna oligotricha | La | ol-tai | shrub; medicinal |
Protea gaguedi | Pr | ol-peepe | sugar bush |
Protea madiensis | Pr | ol-ortet | sugar bush |
Prunus africanus | Ro | ol-kajuk | bird/flowering cherry |
Prunus cerasoides & P. puddum – as P. africanus | |||
Psiadia arabica | A | ol-abai | shrub, yellow flowers |
Psiadia punctulata | A | ol-abai o-rok | tree |
Psychotria fractinervata | Ru | en-jertuyian | shrub/tree; medicinal |
Rapanea melanophloeos | My | o-lenkaburra | ‘the one of the foam’ |
Rawsonia lucida | Ah | ol-oado-entonata | ‘that which deep are the roots’ |
Rhamphicarpa heuglini | Sc | ol-orok-gileleng | tree |
Rhamnus prinoides | Rh | ol-konyil | buffalo-thorn |
Rhoicissus tridentata | V | ol-kilenyai | shrub/bush |
Ricinus communis | E | ol-dulet OR ol-duli | castor oil |
Rhus natalensis | An | ol-misikioi OR ol-munyushi | shrub/tree; sumac |
Rubus pinnatus | Ro | ol-ayakuji | scrambling shrub |
Ruellia patula | Ac | e-sonkoyo | herb |
Rumex usambarensis | P | en-kairodjo | |
Salvadora persica | Sv | o-remit | Toothbrush tree; medicinal |
Sanseviera cylindrica | Rc | ol-makele OR ol-dupai | medicinal |
Satureia prinoides | La | en-koloshoo | herb/shrub |
Scadoxus multiflorus – as Haemanthus multiflorus | |||
Schefflera volkensii | Al | ol-tiini | tree |
Schinus molle | An | ol-mosanduka | pepper-tree |
Schrebera alata | Ol | ol-benek uni OR ol-loombenek uni OR ol-kakawa | ‘tree of three leaves’ |
Scutia myrtina | Rh | e-sanankur OR ol-amai | tree |
Senecio hadiensis – as S. petitianus | |||
Senecio moorei | A | ol-mutukuntu | shrub/bush |
Senecio petitianus | A | ol-airamiram OR kelaikwaiet | ragwort, groundsel |
Senna didymobotrya | F | senetoi | shrub |
Sesanum angolende | Pe | en-kaisuishoi | |
Sesbania sesban | F | ol-oyiangalani | Sesbania tree |
Sida cuneifolia | Mv | ol-oinini | shrub |
Sida masaica, S. schimperiana & S. tunuicarpa – as S. cuneifolia | |||
Solanesio mannii – as Senecio petitianus | |||
Solanum incanum | S | en-tulelei | Sodom-apple |
Solanum sessilistellatum | S | ol-tulelei le n-tim | Forest Sodom-apple |
Spilanthes mauritania | A | ol-kum | tree; medicinal |
Stathmostelma pedunculata | As | ol-cule | tuberous shrub |
Sterculia africana | Mv | ol-karasha | tropical chestnut |
Synadenium grantii | E | en-korbobit | tree/bush |
Syzygium sp. | M | ol-airragai | mshiwi tree |
Tagetes minuta | A | ol-banki | |
Tamarindus indica | F | ol-masangus OR ol-kuaju | Tamarind tree |
Tarchonantus camphoratus | A | o-leleshua OR o-sentu | bush |
Tarenna graveoleus | Ru | ol-masei OR ol-tuyesi | tree/shrub |
Teclea nobilis | Rt | ol-gelai OR ol-gilai | tree |
Teclea specialis – as T. nobilis | |||
Terminalia specialis – as Combretum molle | |||
Tetradenia riparia | La | o-rinka lo l-kaldes | tree; ‘brown monkey’s club’ |
Themeda triandra | Gr | ol-peresi o-rasha OR ol-kujita o-nyokie | red oat-grass |
Tragia brevipes | E | ol-tameyioi | stinging/climbing herb |
Trichocladus ellipticus | Ha | ol-paligilagi | shrub/tree |
Turraea mombasana | Me | ol-cani le nkashe OR ol-cani oo n-kiken | ‘tree of the heifer’; small toothbrush tree |
Vangueria acutiloba | Ru | ol-gumi | tree |
Vernonia adoensis | A | o-lekoru | woody herb/shrub |
Vernonia lasiopus | A | ol-musakuaa | shrub, purple flowers |
Vernonia uniflora – as V. lasiopus | |||
Vigna sinensis – as Cajanus indicus | |||
Warburgia ugandensis | Cn | o-sokoni | greenheart tree |
Ziziphus mucronata | Rh | enk-oilale | buffalo-thorn tree |