Recently
On my way back from a friends place just behind Lagos state university,
i happened to pass by a mini leafy vegetable plantation very close to
the main road filled with lots of Nigerian leafy vegetables. Luckily for
me, i had my camera in the backpack i was carrying to document
everything. When i approached the farmer to ask for permission to snap,
he was quite surprised but more than willing to let me take pictures.
Infact, he also helped out with the local names while i jotted down
excitedly...lol!
I've come to
realize, there are lots of plants that have been well researched in
Nigeria but due to the fact that most people do not know the
local/foreign names, most of the information has been lost in
translation. As they say, knowledge is power and since we learn every
day I’ve decided to throw this post open to everyone out there. Please
do shed more light on any herb/plant whose local and English names you
know of. If you also know the uses, please add. This is for research
purposes and with your help the indigenous nutritional / health benefits
and uses would also be known. Below are some of the indigenous names of
plants and some of their uses.
1. English Name: Fluted Pumpkin Leaves
Local Name: Ugu (Igbo)
Botanical Name: Telfairia Occidentalis
Ugu is a leafy
vegetable which is used in Nigeria for both culinary and medicinal
purposes. It is Rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium,
iron and folic acid which makes it highly nutritious. It is also a good
source Of vitamins A, C and, k and lots of minerals. Researchers also
found out that eating meals rich in fluted pumpkin leaves and seeds
helps prevent Cancer, Improves blood count, Beats diabetes, Reduce blood
glucose & Cholesterol levels. it's Used for soups like Efo Riro,
♥ Click Here to View Soup recipes with leafy vegetables
♥ Click Here for Nigerian Leafy vegetable Recipes
2. English Name: Jute leaves, saluyot leaves
Local Name: Ewedu (Yoruba), Rama Ayoyo (Hausa/Fulbe)
Botanical Name: Corchorus
In the western
part of nigeria, it is used in the preparation of Ewedu soup. Once
grinded, it's got a slimy consistency just like Okra. It's a good source
of fibre, low in calories but high in vitamins. In herbal medicine, it
is used to control or prevent dysentery, worm infestation and
constipation. Ayurveda (ancient Hindu system of healing) use the leaves
for ascites, pain, piles, and tumors. Elsewhere, the leaves are used for
cystitis, dysuria, fever, and gonorrhoea. The cold infusion is said to
restore the appetite and strength.
3. English Name: Bitter Leaf
Local Name: Onugbu (Igbo), Efo Ewuro (Yoruba), Shakwa shuwaka (Hausa), Etidot (Cross River State of Nigeria)
Botanical Name: Vernonia Amygdalina
As
the name implies, the plant is actually bitter and is used in preparing
the popular Nigerian bitter leaf soup. Most times, its sold already
pre-washed in the Nigerian market.There are several species of bitter
leaf-some large, leafy and deep green leaves, while some have
comparatively smaller broader leaves. The bitterness is usually removed
by boiling before the leaves are cooked as soups or added to soups made
with other vegetables or eaten as spinach. it is rich in vitamins and
minerals.
In traditional
nigerian medicine it is used to treat Fever, malaria, hepatitis,
diarrhea, dysentery, and cough. The leaves are also used as medicine for
Stomach ache, Head ache, Scabies, Gastro intestinal disorders.
Bitter
leaf also reduces the sugar level of the body drastically and repairs
the pancreas and kidneys which makes it great for diabetic patients.
4. English Name: Eru "wild spinach" or African Jointfir
Local Name: Afang leaves (Ibibio), Okazi/Ukazi (Igbo)
Botanical Name: Gnetum Africanum
Okazi
for example is a climbing plant like Ugu and Uziza. It's got a tough
(hard) papery glossy texture and is somehow tasteless without any
distinctive smell. it is used in the preparation of Afang soup and okazi soup.
Some people also add it to egusi soup. locally, it's used as a remedy
for sorethroats, nausea , reduction of pain during childbirth or as a
dressing for warts. it's a rich source of protein and is strong in
essential and non-essential amino acids. it also has an
anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties. It
contains iron and iodine.
5. English Name: False cubeb leaves (The seeds from the plant is known as mkpuru uziza (uziza seeds))
Local Name: Uziza leaves/ Ashanti pepper leaves/ Benin pepper leaves/ Guinea cubeb leaves
Botanical Name: Piper guineense
In the local
Nigerian market, it is known as hot leaves. it's peppery and is usually
used in small quantity to add flavor and a very nice aroma to soups like
Ofe nsala, Vegetable soups and sometimes Egusi soup. It is rich in anti-oxidants and has preservative properties.
6. English Name: Bush buck
Local Name: Utazi (Igbo), ‘arokeke’(Yoruba)
Botanical Name: Gongronema latifolium
Utazi leaves is very Sharp-bitter and sweet and is used in small quantity in preparing soups like Nsala soup, Ugba Sauce,Yam
and also in garnishing dishes like Abacha Ncha, Isi ewu, Nkwobi e.t.c.
It is also used locally in the treatment of cough, intestinal worms,
dysentery, dyspepsia and malaria. It is also taken as a tonic to treat
loss of appetite and also In the treatment of diabetes and high blood
pressure.
♥ Click Here to View Soup recipes with leafy vegetables
♥ Click Here for Nigerian Leafy vegetable Recipes
7. English Name: Clove Basil
Local Name: Nchuawun(Igbo), Efirin(Yoruba), Daidoya (Hausa), Ntong(efik), Aramogbo (Edo)
Botanical Name: Ocimum gratissimum
Scent leaves is used in the preparation of foods such as pepper soup, Ofe Akwu,
Yam porridge, Vegetable soups e.t.c and as the name implies, it gives a
wonderful aroma to the meals it's prepared with. In traditional
medicine, it is used to lower blood pressure as well as reduce blood
sugar level. it is used in the treatment of piles. it is said to be
useful in the medication for people living with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV), and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome virus AIDS, In
Congo, scent leaf decoction is used for diarrhoea, gonorrhoea infection,
vaginal douches for vaginitis and used in treatment of mental illness.
In Nigeria it is used as a strong mosquito repellent as well as other
insects.
8. English Name: Curry leaf "sweet neem leaves"
Local Name: Efirin Oso(Yoruba), Marugbo sanyan(Yoruba)
Botanical Name: Murraya koenigii
In
Nigerian meal preparation, it is added to stews, meats, fish to add
flavor to the dishes. Its got small pinnate leaves which are highly
aromatic. Other uses include it being used as a good remedy for nausea
and indigestion, The leaves are chewed to lose weight, it is known to
improve eyesight and also prevent cataract, it is used to improve hair
color.
9. English Name: Water leaf
Local Name: Gbure (Yoruba)
Botanical Name:Talinum Triangulare
Water leaves
are used in the preparation of soups such as Efo riro, Edikaikong,
vegetable yam e.t.c. It's mostly abundant during the rainy season and
once added to soups, it tends to increase the volume of water/ liquid in
it hence the name "Water leaves". According to scientific studies, it
is said to be rich in mineral salts and amino-acids as well as having
anti-scorbutic properties i.e prevention against the scurvy disease.
10. English Name: Lagos
Spinach, plumed cockscomb, quail grass, silver cock’s comb (En);
célosie,
célosie argentée, crête de coq (Fr); borlón, cresta de gallo
Local Name: Shoko yokoto
Botanical Name: Celosia Argentia
Shoko yokoto
is a leafy vegetable mainly popular in the western part of nigeria. it
is also the main leaf used in the preparation of efo riro, a popular vegetable soup.
Sometimes, the leaves are crested with Purplish/Red discolorations in
the middle. It is rich in Beta- Carotene, Folic Acid, Ascorbic acid,
Calcium, Iron, Protein.
11. English Name: African spinach, "Green"
Local Name: Efo Tete (Yoruba), tete eleegun(yoruba),
Botanical Name: Amaranthus Hybridus
Known as
"Green" in the local market due to its colour, this leafy vegetable is
the second most popular leafy vegetable after Ugu. it's used in the
preparation of various Nigerian dishes.
♥ Click Here to View Soup recipes with leafy vegetables
♥ Click Here for Nigerian Leafy vegetable Recipes
12. English Name: African eggplant leaf (Garden egg leaf), Gboma
Local Name: Efo Igbo(Yoruba)
Botanical Name: Solanium marcrocarpon
Garden Egg
leaves are used in the preparation of vegetable stews and yam dishes by
some people.The leaves have a very bitter taste.
Update: Aside
from the fruit, every other part of S. macrocarpon has been reported to
cause heart failure, digestive problems, and lethargy in dogs. Because
S. macrocarpon is part of the Solanaceae family, it contains alkaloids,
giving the plant and fruit its bitter taste. Consuming the plant in
large frequencies may potentially be poisonous.S. macrocarponcontains
glycoalkaloids and the levels found in the fruit were 5-10 times higher
than what is considered safe, and may not be safe for humans to eat. Source
13. English Name: Moringa leaves
Local Name: Igbo: "Odudu oyibo","Okwe oyibo", "Okwe olu", "Uhe", "Oku-ghara-ite"
Yoruba: ("igi iyanu","malero", "Ewele", "Ewé ilé", "Ewe igbálé", Idagbo monoyé )
Hausa: Zogale
Botanical name: Moringa olefera
More on moringa Here..............................
14. English Name: ???
Local Name: Oha / Ora leaves
Botanical name: ???
Oha leaf is really popular in the eastern part of nigeria. it's the major ingredient in the preparation of the famous Oha/ Ora soup.
It is an uncommon leafy vegetable which is not a climbing plant like
ugu instead, it is rather a kind of leafy tree called Oha tree! The tree
can grow from 1 year to up to 100 years and from a small feet to tower
up to 200 feet or more. It bears no fruits or seeds compared with other
leafy vegetables. All the young shoots of the leaves are eatable. It
starts to yield or to produce eatable leaves from one year. As it grows
and towers in height, people always employ climbers to climb and pluck
the leaves for sale and for home consumption.
15. English Name: Mint leaves Scientifically known as Mentha
Local Name: Na'a Naa (arabic)
Mint leaf is an aromatic herb which is mostly used as to make things
like breath fresheners i.e peppermint. It's NOT the same as scent leaf
(Efinrin/nchuawun). In the local market especially with the hausa
vendors, mint is known as " Na'a naa ".
16. English Name: Spring onions, Scallion
Local Name: ???
A scallion is
one of various Allium species, all of which have hollow green leaves
(like the common onion), but which lack a fully developed root bulb. It
has a relatively mild onion flavour, and is used as a vegetable, either
raw or cooked. Many other names are used, including green onion, spring
onion, salad onion, table onion, green shallot, onion stick, long onion,
baby onion, precious onion, yard onion,gibbon, syboe or scally onion.Source
♥ Click Here to View Soup recipes with leafy vegetables
♥ Click Here for Nigerian Leafy vegetable Recipes
17. English Name: Unknown plant name
Local Name: ???
 |
| who has an idea what this plant is called????????? Still pending |
18: English Name: ???
Local Name: Atama leaves / Beletientien
This
is an annual Herb cultivated in the delta areas. It smells and taste
like tarragon; usually used fresh or dried in the preparation of Banga
soup.
Rafael Benitez can stay on as Napoli coach "for the next five years" if club president Aurelio De Laurentiis gets his way.
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