List of Plants, Trees and Shrubs
Introduction
Mbweni is an area with an important botanical history. It lay relatively
undisturbed until sometime after the 7th Century, when it may have been settled
by Arabs, then by Persians after the 12th Century and finally by Portuguese in
the 16th and 17th Centuries. In 1871 there was a country house belonging to a
wealthy Arab family standing where the main entrance of the ruins is today. The
Omani Arabs loved to retreat from the city in the hot weather, when open sewers
and an absence of garbage removal made the town a dangerous hotbed of infectious
diseases such as cholera, plague, typhoid and smallpox.
‘Mbweni Point Shamba’, including this house, was bought by Bishop Tozer for the UMCA (Universities’ Mission to Central Africa) for the purpose of setting up a village for freed slaves and an Anglican mission. It was the first such large missionary settlement in East Africa and the initial 30 acres were added to later until there were about 150 acres of land covered in schools, a church, workshops, villagers’ houses, a market and sugar, coconut and maize plantations. Lime was also burned in large circular wood piles. Coral was dug both for lime burning and as the main construction material of the mission buildings and circular pits are to be found in the area today. Presumably at the same time, Sir John Kirk, who was then Surgeon General and Vice Consul at the British Consulate, bought or was given a piece of land adjoining the mission, on the northern border, overlooking the ocean. Some historical records say that when he became the British Consul, Seyyid Barghash, the reigning Sultan at that time and a good friend of Kirk’s, built him a house as a country retreat on this land. Kirk and his family used the house a lot and he planted an incredible garden around it. Kirk had gone with David Livingstone on his Zambezi expeditions to Central Africa in 1858 and 1859 as medical doctor and botanist, when they were the first foreigners to see Lake Nyasa. He collected specimens which later became the basis of the Flora of East Africa. For his experimental garden at Mbweni, he imported seeds, plants and cuttings from Kew Gardens in England as well as from India, the Far East and South America. His main purpose was to find out which useful plants would survive in the Zanzibar climate because it was clear that though the clove industry was prospering, it was the only real export product of Zanzibar and if this monoculture should collapse, the islands’ economy could also fail. He established other spices, such as nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper and ginger as well as other edible trees such as various species of bananas, mangos, mangosteen, durian, breadfruit, jackfruit, cashew nut, avocado, cocoa, lychee, rambutan, zambarao and many others. In addition he brought in palms which produced thatching, wine and sago. He experimented a great deal with rubber vines, both endemic and imported. He may have brought sisal and other fibrous plants, though it may have been the Germans who imported these from Mexico to Amani in the East Usambaras, who were the original source of sisal. Kirk established cinchona, the source of quinine, as well as other medicinal plants. His garden was used to propagate the core species for all the botanic gardens of Tanzania, including Migombani and Victoria Gardens in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Amani Botanic Gardens on the mainland though of course other species were added later to all of these gardens.
A pleasant walk from the hotel leads past St John’s church, which has an interesting cemetery and can be accessed if the sextant, Mr Peter Sudi, is present. He is a descendant of the first African Deacon of the UMCA, John Swedi, who was one of the first 5 slave boys who were handed to Bishop Tozer by Sultan Majid to look after, when he arrived in Zanzibar. In the cemetery are some very prickly cycads, (Encephalartos hidebrandtii), which are endemic on the east coast of Zanzibar and must have been planted by the missionaries at Mbweni. Lining the road past the church are large old Rain trees (Samanea saman), which close their leaves when it rains and are no protection in a shower! They flower around November and have fluffy pink blossoms. Sir John Kirk’s old house lies along the side road leading from St John’s church. When Kirk left Zanzibar in 1887 it was bought by Caroline Thackeray, headmistress of the St Mary’s School for Girls (now known as the Mbweni Ruins) for 50 years. Every year, Miss Thackeray used to open the grounds to the public for a Garden Party. She deeded the property to the UMCA before she died there in 1926; she was buried at St John’s Church. Kirk’s House and gardens are now privately owned and not open to the public. Today the gardens are overgrown and attractively jungle-like, with rare and exotic species grown wild and rampant, including Coffee, Cycads, Poison Fish trees, Caryota palms, African Oil palms and many others.
The village market used to stand at the beginning of the road to Kirk’s house, opposite the church. Further up the road connecting the church to the police station, at a small crossroad, is the old brick mission well. The north fork leads up to Kilimani, the little boys’ school of the mission, standing on a hill overlooking the sea and also privately owned.
When the owners of Mbweni Ruins Hotel bought the Mbweni Ruins and the land beside them in 1991, they decided to create a botanic garden with all the species which were imported by Kirk represented as well as many indigenous plants. There are over 650 plant species in the grounds and most species have at least one label. A walk around the grounds or on the nature trail can yield an enjoyable and interesting experience.
In the palm garden beside the Industrial Wing, which was built by Caroline Thackeray for teaching trades to the less academically gifted girls, are two ancient Cycads: these are Cycas thouarsii, endemic in Pemba and this pair could be over 500years old. Presumably they were planted here by the occupants of the site, though they may also have been endemic to this part of the islands at that time. The leaves are slim and feathery, similar to Cycas circinalis, which may be found elsewhere in the grounds, and in Kirk’s garden. The origin of the Cycas thouarsii species was probably Madagascar. Both of the large old trees at Mbweni are males so cannot be propagated by seeds. Near the reception are two large Jackfruit trees, whose enormous green fruits grow directly from the trunk. There are other large old fruit trees in the grounds, planted by the missionaries, including an enormous mango tree in front of the ruins, above the beach. A strangler fig which was killing this tree was cut away from it in 1992. The same species of ficus had embedded itself in the ruins and many walls fell down when the trees were removed.
A spice garden has been planted beside the ruins and in front of the west facade are some hardwood trees, including African Blackwood and Red Sandalwood. There is an Acacia grove below these and a red garden nearby. There are Caladium and Begonia collections, a grouping of Heliconias and Gingers and several species of Bamboo near the terrace garden. Probably the pride of the collection is the palms, of which there are over 150 species spread about the grounds. The most interesting one is possibly Dypsis pembana, which is endemic to Pemba and probably originated from Madagascar. Its beautiful feathery leaves and green and white clustered trunks are very decorative and around February the bright red fruits appear to delight the eye.
There are many birds, butterflies and small mammals, attracted by the fruits and shade of the gardens. In the last century, the Zanzibar Leopard was known to live in the scrub to the south. Mongooses, Galagos and possibly Civets are still around. We are delighted to welcome you to our gardens and we know that you will tread with care, and please kindly observe only, and do not touch or try to collect any of the plants, insects, birds and animals you may encounter in this special and peaceful environment.
List of Plants, Trees and Shrubs at
Mbweni Ruins Hotel Private Botanic Gardens
Index of Scientific Names excluding palms, which follow separately:
Acacia albida - Mimosaceae - APPLE RING/ACACIA ALBIDA - Africa Acacia auriculiformis - Mimosaceae - WATTLE - Australia Acacia polyacantha - Mimosaceae - FALCON’S CLAW ACACIA - East Africa Acacia seyal - Mimosaceae - WHISTLING THORN/MPIGA KURURU - East Africa Acacia tortilis - Mimosaceae - UMBRELLA THORN - Africa Acalypha godseffiana - Euphorbiaceae - FIDDLE-LEAF ACALYPHA - Tropical Acalypha godseffiana ‘Heterophylla’ - Euphorbiaceae - LACE ACALYPHA- New Guinea Acalypha hispida - Euphorbiaceae - CHENILLE PLANT - Indonesia Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Ceylon’ - Euphorbiaceae - FIREDRAGON - Tropical Acalypha wilkesiana marginata - Euphorbiaceae - COPPERLEAF - South Sea Islands Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Hoffmannii’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Java White’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Macrophylla’ - Euphorbiaceae - GIANT REDHEAD - Tropical Acrostichum aureum - Filices: Polypodiaceae - LARGE-LEAVED GROUND FERN
- South and East Africa Adansonia digitata - Bombacaceae - BAOBAB/MBUYU
- Africa, Australia + Madagascar Adenanthera pavonina - Mimosoidiae - RED SANDALWOOD/RED BEAD TREE - Tropical Asia Adenium obesum - Apocynaceae - DESERT ROSE/MDAGU - Tropical + South Africa Afromomum augustifolium - Zingiberaceae - WILD CARDAMOM / MATUNGUU
- Zanzibar and Pemba Agave americana ‘Marginata’- Amaryllidaceae
- VARIEGATED CENTURY PLANT - Mexico Agave atrovirens - Amaryllidaceae - PULQUE AGAVE - Southern Mexico Agave sisalana - Amaryllidaceae - SISAL - Mexico, Yucatan Agave sp. - Amaryllidaceae - MKADANI - Wild in Zanzibar and Pemba Aglaonema commutatum - Araceae - SILVER EVERGREEN - Philippines, Sri Lanka Aglaonema modestum ‘Variegatum’ - Araceae - Puerto Rico Aglaonema ‘Pseudo-bracteatum’ - Araceae - GOLDEN EVERGREEN - Malaysia Aglaonema ‘Silver King’ - Araceae - Malaysia Aglaonema treubii - Araceae - RIBBON AGLAONEMA - Celebes Albizia lebbeck - Mimosoidiae - WOMAN’S TONGUE/MKINGUU
- Tropical Asia + Africa Allamanda cathartica - Apocynaceae - GOLDEN TRUMPET - Brazil Allamanda cathartica ‘Hendersonii’ - Apocynaceae - LARGE ALLAMANDA - Tropical Allamanda violaceae - Apocynaceae - PURPLE ALLAMANDA - Brazil Alocasia macrorhiza - Araceae - ELEPHANT EAR - Malaysia Alocasia macrorhiza ‘Variegata’ - Araceae - VARIEGATED ELEPHANT EAR - Malaysia Aloe kirkii - Liliaceae - MSHUBIRI MWITU - Wild in Zanzibar and Pemba Aloe vera chinensis - Liliaceae - INDIAN MEDICINE PLANT - India Alpinia purpurata - Zingiberaceae - RED GINGER - Malaya Alpinia sanderae - Zingiberaceae - VARIEGATED GINGER - New Guinea Alpinia zerumbert - Zingiberaceae - SHELL GINGER - China + Southern Japan Alternanthera dentata ‘Ruby’ - Amaranthaceae - FALSE GLOBE AMARANTH - Brazil Ananas comosus - Bromeliaceae - PINEAPPLE - Bahia, Mato Grosso Angraecum giryamae - Orchidaceae - WHITE CLIFF ORCHID
- Madagascar, wild in Zanzibar and Pemba Annona chrysophylla - Annonaceae - WILD CUSTARD APPLE/MTOPETOPE
- Zanzibar and Tanzania Annona muricata - Annonaceae - SOURSOP/MSTAFELI - New World Tropics Annona reticulata - Annonaceae - BULLOCK’S HEART/MTOMOKO MKUBWA
- New World Tropics Ansellia africana - Orchidaceae - YELLOW SPRAY ORCHID - Africa Anthurium andraeanum - Araceae - ANTHURIUM - Colombia Anthurium crystallium - Araceae - ANTHURIUM - Peru Antigonon leptopus - Polygonaceae - CORAL VINE - Mexico Aphelandra aurantiaca - Acanthaceae - FIERY SPIKE - Mexico Arachnis flos-aeris - Orchidaceae - SPIDER ORCHID - Singapore Araucaria excelsa - Araucariaceae - NORFOLK ISLAND PINE
- Norfolk Island, N.E. Australia Aristolochia grandiflora - Aristolochiaceae - DUTCHMAN’S PIPE - Jamaica Artocarpus altilis - Moraceae - BREADFRUIT - Polynesia Artocarpus heterophyllus - Moraceae - JACKFRUIT - Southern India Arundaria pumila - Gramineae - DWARF BAMBOO - Japan Asclepias curassavica - Asclepiadaceae - BLOOD FLOWER - Tropical America Asparagus densiflorus - Liliaceae - ASPARAGUS ‘FERN’/KINYWELE
- Southern Africa Asparagus setaceus - Liliaceae - ‘FERN’ ASPARAGUS - Southern Africa Asplenium nidus - Filices: Polypodiaceae - BIRDSNEST FERN - Africa Aster spp. - Compositae - ASTER - S.E. Europe to West Africa Averrhoa bilimbi - Oxalicaceae - CUCUMBER TREE/MBILIMBI - India, Malaysia Averrhoa carambola - Oxalicaceae - CARAMBOLA - India + Malaysia Azadiracta indica - Meliaceae - NEEM - India, Burma + Thailand Bambusa textilis - Gramineae - South China Bambusa vulgaris - Graminiae - FEATHERY BAMBOO - East Indies, wild in Africa Bambusa vulgaris ‘Aureo-Variegata’- Graminiae
- VARIEGATED GOLDEN BAMBOO/MWANZI - East Indies Barleria cristata - Acanthaceae - PHILIPPINE VIOLET - Philippines Barleria lupulina - Acanthaceae - HOP-HEADED BARLERIA - Mauritius Barleria obtusa - Acanthaceae - BARLERIA - Tropical Barringtonia asiatica - Barringtoniaceae - POISON FISH TREE
- Indian + Pacific Oceans Barringtonia racemosa - Lecythidaceae - POWDER PUFF TREE - Southern Africa Bauhinia monandra - Caesalpiniaceae - BUTTERFLY FLOWER/ORCHID TREE - Burma Bauhinia petersiana - Caesalpiniaceae - WILD BAUHINIA - East Africa Bauhinia tomentosa - Caesalpiniaceae - YELLOW TREE BAUHINIA - Africa Bauhinia variegata - Caesalpiniaceae - MOUNTAIN EBONY/ORCHID TREE
- India + China Bauhinia variegata var. ‘Candida’ - Caesalpiniaceae - WHITE BAUHINIA
- India + China Beaucarnea recurvata - Liliaceae - PONYTAIL ‘PALM’ - Mexico Begonia foliosa - Begoniaceae - FERNLEAF BEGONIA - Colombia Begonia heracleifolia nigricans - Begoniaceae - STAR BEGONIA - Mexico Begonia ulmifolia - Begoniaceae - ELM LEAF BEGONIA - Colombia, Venezuela Begonia x argenteo-guttata - Begoniaceae - TROUTLEAF BEGONIA - Brazil Begonia x erytrophylla feastii - Begoniaceae - BEEFSTEAK BEGONIA
- Subtropic hybrid Begonia ricinifolia - Begoniaceae - CASTOR BEAN BEGONIA - Subtropic hybrid Begonia speculata - Begoniaceae - GRAPELEAF BEGONIA - Subtropic hybrid Belloperone guttata - Acanthaceae - SHRIMP PLANT - Mexico Billbergia pyramidalis concolor - Bromeliaceae
- SUMMER TORCH BROMELIAD - Brazil Bixa orellana - Bixaceae - ANNATTO/MZINGEFURI - Costa Rica Bougainvillea formosa - Nyctaginaceae - BOUGAINVILLEA - Singapore Bougainvillea glabra - Nyctaginaceae - PAPER FLOWER/BOUGAINVILLEA - Brazil Bougainvillea glabra ‘Salmonea’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Bougainvillea spectabilis - Nyctaginaceae - Brazil Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Alba plena’ - Nyctaginaceae - Brazil Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Manila Magic Pink’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Mary Palmer’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Milflores’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Mrs Helen MacLean’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Mrs Lancaster’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Bougainvillea spectabilis ‘Peter Greensmith’ - Nyctaginaceae - Tropical Brachychiton acerifolium - Sterculiaceae - FLAME TREE - Australia Brassaia actinophylla - Araliaceae - QUEENSLAND UMBRELLA TREE - Australia Breynia nivosa - Euphorbiaceae - SNOW BUSH - South Sea Islands Brunfelsia pauciflora - Solanaceae - YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW – Central and South America + The Antilles Caesalpinia coriaria - Caesalpiniaceae - DIVI DIVI - Aruba, Antilles Caesalpinia cristata - Caesalpiniaceae - BAO BUSH/MKOMBWE/MSOO
- Zanzibar and Pemba Caesalpinia decapetata - Caesalpiniaceae - YELLOW MAURITIUS THORN
- West Indies Caesalpinia pulcherrima - Caesalpiniaceae - BARBADOS PRIDE/MNONYORE
- West Indies Caladium bicolor - Araceae - CALADIUM - Guyana, Trinidad, Brazil Caladium hortulanum - Araceae - FANCY-LEAVED CALADIUM - Tropical hybrid Caladium hortulanum ‘Candidum’ - Araceae - WHITE CALADIUM
- Tropical America Calathea ornata ‘Roseo-lineata’ - Marantaceae - CALATHEA - Tropical Calliandra surinamensis - Mimosoidiae - POWDER PUFF/SHAVING BRUSH - Mexico Callistemon viminalis - Myrtaceae - WEEPING BOTTLE BRUSH - Eastern Australia Calophyllum inophyllum - Guttiferae - ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL/MTONDOO
- East Indies and Malaysia Calotropis procera - Asclepiadaceae - GIANT MILKWEED - West Africa to India Capsicum frutescens - Solanaceae - BIRD PEPPER/PILIPILI HOHO - South America Cananga odorata - Annonaceae - YLANG YLANG - Australia Canna bidentata - Cannaceae - INDIAN SHOT PLANT/MITASBIHI - Tropical Canna generalis ‘City of Portland’ - Cannaceae - PINK CANNA - Tropical Canna generalis ‘Confetti’ - Cannaceae - CANNA - Tropical Canna generalis ‘King Humbert’ - Cannaceae - BRONZE GARDEN CANNA - Tropical Canna generalis ‘Striatus’ - Cannaceae - STRIPED CANNA - Tropical Carica papaya - Caricaceae - PAWPAW/MPAPAI - Central America + Brazil Carissa edulis - Apocynaceae - East Africa Carludovica palmata - Cyclantheae - PANAMA HAT “PALM” - Central America Cassia didymobotrya - Caesalpiniaceae - POPCORN BUSH/UPUP WA MDITU
-Tropical America Cassia excelsa - Caesalpiniaceae - CROWN OF GOLD - Brazil Cassia fistula - Caesalpiniaceae - INDIAN LABURNUM - South Asia Cassia grandis - Caesalpiniaceae - PINK SHOWER - Mexico, Central + South America Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa - Caesalpiniaceae - APPLEBLOSSOM SHOWER – Eastern Himalayas to Malay Peninsula Cassia roxburghii marginatum - Caesalpiniaceae - RED CASSIA - Sri Lanka Cassia spectabilis - Caesalpiniaceae - GOLDEN WONDER TREE - Tropical America Cassytha filiformis - Lauraceae - MLAMGAMIA - Zanzibar and Pemba Casuarina equisetifolia - Casuarinaceae - CASUARINA/MVINJE - Australia Catharanthus roseus - Apocynaceae - MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE - Madagascar Ceiba pentrandra - Bombacaceae - KAPOK/MSUFI - Tropical Africa and America Celosia cristata - Amaranthaceae - COXCOMB/MFUNGU
- East Indies + Tropical Africa Ceratozamiae hildae - Zamiaceae - BAMBOO ZAMIA - Mexico Cereus peruvianus - Cactaceae - COLUMN CACTUS - Peru Cestrum nocturnum - Solanaceae - QUEEN OF THE NIGHT - South East Asia Chlorophora excelsa - Moraceae - MVULE - East Africa Chlorophylum comosum - Liliaceae - SPIDER PLANT - South Africa Cinnamomum zeylanicum - Lauraceae - CINNAMON/MDALASINI - Ceylon Citrus aurantifolia - Rutaceae - LIME/MDIMU - China Citrus reticulata - Rutaceae - TANGERINE/MACHENZA -South East Asia Citrus sinensis - Rutaceae - ORANGE/MACHUNGWA - China Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Verbenaceae - GLORY BOWER - Java, Ceylon Clerodendrum x speciosum - Verbenaceae - Tropical Clerodendrum splendens - Verbenaceae - CLERODENDRUM RED CREEPER
- Senegambia to Angola Clerodendrum thomsonae - Verbenaceae - BLEEDING HEART VINE - West Africa Clitoria ternatea - Papilionaceae - MFUTAFUTA - Tropical Africa Codiaeum variegatum - Euphorbiaceae - CROTON - Indonesia + New Guinea Codiaeum variegatum ‘Acerifolium’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Codiaeum variegatum ‘Exotica’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Codiaeum variegatum ‘Fred Sander’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Codiaeum variegatum ‘Gloriosa’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Codiaeum variegatum ‘Gloriosa superbum’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Codiaeum variegatum ‘Majesticum’ - Euphorbiaceae - Polynesia Codiaeum variegatum ‘Puncatum aureum’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Codiaeum variegatum ‘Warrenii’ - Euphorbiaceae - Tropical Coffea excelsa - Rubiaceae - CONGO COFFEE/MBUNI - Central Africa Coleus spp. - Labiatae - MZUGWA - Tropical Asia and Africa Colocasia antiquorum - Araceae - EGYPTIAN ‘TARO’/MAYUGWA - Egypt Combretum constricutm - Combretaceae - TOOTHBRUSH BUSH - Africa Combretum fruiticosum - Combretaceae - BURNING BUSH - Tropical America Cordia lutea - Boraginaceae - MKAMAZI - Polynesia,
Marquesas, Galapagos, W. Peru Cordia sebestena - Boraginaceae - GEIGER TREE - Caribbean Cordyline fruticosa - Liliaceae - GREEN CORDYLINE - Polynesia Cordyline terminalis - Liliaceae - TREE OF KINGS
- India, Malaysia to Polynesia Costus malortieanus - Zingiberaceae - STEPLADDER PLANT - Costa Rica Costus speciosus - Zingiberaceae - SPIRAL GINGER - India Cotyledon orbiculata - Crassulaceae - South Africa Crescentia cujete - Bignoniaceae - CALABASH TREE - Tropical America Crinum asiaticum - Amaryllidaceae - CRINUM LILY
- Tropical South Asia, Melanesia Crinum kirkii - Amaryllidaceae - KIRK’S CRINUM LILY/MYONYORE - Zanzibar Crossandra infuldibuliformis - Acanthaceae - FIRECRACKER FLOWER - India Cryptanthus bivittatus - Bromeliaceae - Brazil Cryptanthus zonatus ‘Zebrinus’ - Bromeliaceae - ZEBRA PLANT - Brazil Cryptocereus anthonyanus - Orchidaceae - ST ANTHONY’S RICK RACK - Mexico Cryptostegia grandiflora - Asclepiadaceae - INDIA RUBBER VINE
- Mascarene Islands Cuphea melvilla - Lythraceae - FALSE HEATHER - Guyana Curcuma domestica - Zingiberaceae - TURMERIC / MANJANO - India Cycas circinalis - Cycadaceae - FERN ‘PALM’ - Asia Cycas ophiolitica - Cycadaceae - Zimbabwe Cycas revoluta - Cycadaceae - SAGO ‘PALM’ - Mexico Cycas thouarsii - Cycadaceae - MTAPO
- Madagascar, Comores, Seychelles + E. Africa Cymbopogon citratus - Gramineae - LEMON GRASS - Sri Lanka Cyperus alternifolia - Cyperaceae - UMBRELLA PLANT - Central Africa Dalbergia melanoxylon - Papilionoidiae - AFRICAN BLACKWOOD/MPINGO - E. Africa Datura mollis - Solanaceae - 0RANGE MOONFLOWER - Ecuador Davallia canariensis - Filices: Polypodiaceae - HARE’S FOOT FERN
- Canary Islands, Spain , North Africa Delonix regia - Caesalpiniaceae - FLAMBOYANT TREE - Madagascar Dichorisandra siebertii - Commelinaceae - Mexico Dichrostachys cinerea - Mimosoideae - SICKLE BUSH/MFUNGA NUYUMBA
- Africa, Australia, Burma, India Dieffenbachia reginae - Araceae - DIEFFENBACHIA - Estado do Rio Dieffenbachia ‘Exotica Alba’ - Araceae - WHITE DIEFFENBACHIA - Costa Rica Dieffenbachia ‘Exotica Perfection’ - Araceae - DIEFFENBACHIA - Florida hybrid Dieffenbachia maculata picta - Araceae - SPOTTED DUMBCANE - BrazilS Distictis riversii - Bignoniaceae - Mexico Dracaena deremensis - Agavaceae - STRIPED DRACAENA - Tropical Africa Dracaena fragrans - Agavaceae - DRAGON TREE - Africa, Asia + Australia Dracaena fragrans ‘Victoriae’ - Agavaceae - PAINTED DRAGON LILY
- Tropical hybrid Dracaena marginata - Agavaceae - MADAGASCAR DRAGON TREE - Madagascar Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’ - Agavaceae - RAINBOW TREE - Japan Dracaena sanderianum - Liliaceae - RIBBON PLANT - Africa Drynaria rigidula sp. - Filices: Polypodiaceae - GROUND FERN - indig. Zanzibar Duranta repens - Verbenaceae - Tropical America Durio zibethinus - Bombacaceae - DURIAN/MDURIANI - Borneo, Malaysia Eichornia crassipes - Pontederiaceae - WATER HYACINTH - America Encephalartos hildebrandtii - Zamiaceae - MGWEDE - wild in Zanzibar Enterolobium contortisliquum - Mimosoidiae - ELEPHANT EAR - South America Episcia cupreata - Gesneriaceae - CARPET PLANT - Colombia Episcia cupreata ‘Tropical Topaz’ - Gesneriaceae - Panama Episcia reptans - Gesneriaceae - FLAME VIOLET
- South America Epiphyllum stenopetalum Cactaceae
– ORCHID CACTUS - Mexico, Veracruz Epipremnopsis media - Araceae - Borneo Epipremnum elegans - Araceae - New Guinea Epipremnum pinnatum - Araceae - PHILODENDRON
- Malaya through Java to New Guinea Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Taro Vine’ - Araceae - TARO VINE PHILODENDRON - Java Eranthemum nervosum - Acanthaceae - TROPICAL BLUE SAGE - India Eucalyptus sp. - Myrtaceae - Australia Eucharis grandiflora - Amaryllidaceae - AMAZON LILY - Andes of Colombia Eugenia aqueum - Myrtaceae - WATERY ROSE APPLE/MTUFAA MWEUPE
- South East Asia Eugenia aromatica - Myrtaceae - CLOVE/MKARAFUU - East Indies Eugenia jambos - Myrtaceae - ROSE APPLE/MPERA JULABI - West Indies Eugenia malaccense - Myrtaceae - MALAY APPLE, POMERAC/MTUFAA - Malyasia Eugenia uniflora - Myrtaceae - SURINAM CHERRY/PITANGA - Brazil, Guayana Euphorbia candelabrum - Euphorbiaceae - CANDELABRA TREE - East Africa Euphorbia cotinifolia - Euphorbiaceae - HIERBA MALA
- Mexico to South America Eubphorbia heterophylla - Euphorbiaceae - POINSETTIA
- Mexico + Central America Euphorbia milii - Euphorbiaceae - CROWN OF THORNS - Madagscar Euphorbia oncoclada - Euphorbiaceae - MILK BUSH/MANYARA, MGOVU
- Madagascar, Africa Ficus benjamina - Moraceae - WEEPING FIG - India, Malaysia Ficus cordifolia - Moraceae - STRANGLER FIG - South India, Madras Ficus elastica - Moraceae - RUBBER PLANT - South East Asia Ficus pumila - Moraceae - CREEPING FIG - China, Japan, Australia Fittonia verschaffeltii - Acanthaceae - MOSAIC PLANT - Peru Furcraea selloa marginata - Amaryllidaceae - VARIEGATED FALSE AGAVE
- Colombia Galpinia glauca - Malpighiaceae - SHOWER OF GOLD - Mexico Garcinia xanthochysmus - Clusiaceae - MANGOSTEEN - South East Asia Gardenia tenifolia - Rubiaceae - AFRICAN WILD GARDENIA - East Africa Gloriosa simplex - Liliaceae - GLORIOSA LILY/MSAFARI - Africa Gmelina philippensis - Verbenaceae - HEDGEHOG -Philippines Graptophyllum pictum - Acanthaceae - PINK CARICATURE PLANT - New Guinea Graptophyllum pictum ‘Tricolor’ - Acanthaceae
- WHITE CARICATURE PLANT - New Guinea Guzmania lingulata - Bromeliaceae - South America Haemanthus multiflorus - Amaryllidaceae - BLOOD LILY/YUNGIMANGA - East Africa Hamelia patens - Rubiaceae - FIRE BUSH - Florida, W. Indies to Bolivia Harpullia zanguebarica - Sapindaceae - MGAMBO - East Africa Hedichium coronarium - Zingiberaceae - BUTTERFLY GINGER - Himalayas Heliconia humilis - Musaceae - LOBSTER CLAW - Brazil, Granada, Trinidad Heliconia collinsiana - Musaceae - HANGING HELICONIA - Central America Heliconia distans - Musaceae - Peru Heliconia indica var. Rubricarpa - Musaceae
- PINK-VEINED BANANA PLANT - New Guinea Heliconia latispatha - Musaceae - Central America Heliconia psittacorum - Musaceae - PARROT’S BEAK HELICONIA - Venezuela Heliconia rostrata - Musaceae - HANGING LOBSTER CLAW - Argentina and Peru Heliconia sharonii - Musaceae - DWARF HELICONIA - South America Helxine soleirolii - Urticaceae - BABY’S TEARS - Corsica, Sardinia Hemigraphis colorata - Acanthaceae - RED IVY - Java Hibiscus rosa-sinensis - Malvaceae - CHINESE HIBISCUS - China Hibiscus schizopetalus - Malvaceae - FRINGED HIBISCUS - East Africa Hibiscus tiliaceus - Malvaceae - SEASIDE MAHOE/MKUNGU MWITU - East Africa Hippeastrum reticulatum striatifolium - Amaryllidaceae
- STRIPE-LEAFED AMARYLLIS - Brazil Holmskioldia sanguinea ‘Aurea’ - Verbenaceae
- MANDARIN HAT - Himalayas Holmskioldia tettensis - Verbenaceae
- BLUE CHINESE HAT PLANT - Central Africa Homalocladium platycladum - Polygonaceae - RIBBON BUSH - Solomon Islands Hoodia rosea - Asclepiadaceae - AFRICAN HAT PLANT - Africa Hoya carnosa ‘Variegata’ - Asclepiadaceae
- VARIEGATED WAX PLANT - Australian hybrid Huernia namaquensis - Asclepiadaceae - Africa Hura crepitans - Euphorbiaceae - SANDBOX TREE - Tropical America Hylocereus undatus - Cactaceae - HONOLULU QUEEN - Brazil Hylocereus sp.- Cactaceae - Zanzibar Hymenocallis speciosa - Amaryllidaceae - SPIDER LILY - West Indies Impatiens balsamina - Balsamiaceae - GARDEN BALSAM
- India, wild in Zbar + Pemba Ipomoea angulata - Convolvulaceae - Tanzania Ipomoea carnea - Convolvulaceae - CONVOLVULUS - Tropical America Ipomoea pes-caprae - Convolvulaceae - BEACH CONVOLVULUS/MLAKASA - East Africa Ipomoea nil - Convolvulaceae - MORNING GLORY CREEPER - Japan Ipomoea quamoclit - Convolvulaceae - CARDINAL CLIMBER - Tropical America Iresine herbstii - Amaranthaceae - BEEFSTEAK PLANT - Southern Brazil Ixora coccinea - Rubiaceae - FLAME OF THE WOODS - Africa + India Jacaranda filicifolia - Bignoniaceae - JACARANDA -Brazil Jasminum multiflorum - Oleaceae - STAR JASMINE - China, India Jasminum nitidum - Oleaceae - ANGELWING JAMINE - South Pacific Jasmimum mauritianum - Oleaceae - MWASUMINI MWAFU MWEUPE
- Mauritius, wild in Zanzibar and Pemba Jasmimum pubescens - JASMINE/MWASUMINI - No. Borneo Jasminum sambac - Oleaceae - ARABIAN JASMINE - India Jatropha multifida - Euphorbiaceae - PHYSIC NUT/MBUNGO PEMBE - Africa Jatropha podagrica - Euphorbiaceae - GUATEMALAN RHUBARB - Guatemala Kaempferia brachystemon - Zingiberaceae - DWARF GINGER LILY - East Africa Kalanchoe daigremontiana - Crassulaceae - DEVIL’S BACKBONE - Madagascar Khaya nyasica - Meliaceae - MAHOGANY/SW. MTONDO - Africa Kigelia africana - Bignoniaceae - SAUSAGE TREE - Africa Lagerstroemia indica - Lythraceae - CHINESE CREPE MYRTLE - South East Asia Lagerstroemia speciosa - Lythraceae - PRIDE OF INDIA - India to Australia Landolphia petersiana - Apocynaceae - RUBBER VINE/MBUNGO KIDOGO
- Zanzibar and Pemba Lawsonia inermis - Lythraceae - HENNA/MHINA - Africa Leucaena glauca - Mimosaceae - WILD TAMARIND/SHACK SHACK - W. Indies Lochnea rosea - Apocynaceae - VINCA - Tropical Malvaviscus grandiflora - Malvaceae - SLEEPING HIBISCUS - Central America Mammea americana - Guttiferae - MAMMEE APPLE - Central + South America Markhamia obtusifolia - Bignoniaceae - Africa Mangifera indica - Anarcardiaceae - MANGO/MWEMBE - Burma + Himalayas Manihot utilissima - Euphorbiaceae - CASSAVA/MUHOGO - Brazil Maranta leuconeura - Marantaceae - RABBIT’S FOOT - Brazil Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - Acanthaceae - BRAZILIAN RED CLOAK - Brazil Melia azaderach - Meliaceae - PERSIAN LILAC/CHINABERRY BEAD - Himalayas Mentha viridis - Labiatae - MINT - wild in Zanzibar Milicia excelsa - Moraceae - IROKO/SW. MVULE - Africa Millingtonia hortensis - Bignoniaceae - INDIAN CORK TREE/MSONBARI - India Mimosa pudica - Leguminosae - SENSITIVE PLANT/KIFA UWONGO
- Brazil, naturalized in tropics Mirabilis jalapa - Nyctaginaceae - FOUR O’CLOCK/KINUKA JIO - Peru Monstera obliqua expilata - Araceae - WINDOW LEAF - Amazonas Moringa oleifera - Moringaceae - HORSERADISH TREE/MRONGE
- East Africa + South Asia Morus nigra - Moraceae - BLACK MULBERRY/MFORSADI - Asia Murraya paniculata - Rutaceae - ORANGE JASMINE/CHINA BOX - Tropical Asia Murraya koenigii - Rutaceae - CURRY LEAF/MVUJE - Ceylon Musa balbisiana - Musaceae - PLANTAIN - South East Asia Musa coccinea - Musaceae - FLOWERING BANANA - Vietnam Musa paradisiaca - Musaceae - BANANA - South East Asia Myristica fragrans - Myristicaceae - NUTMEG/MKUNGUMANGA - China + India Neoregelia spectabilis - Bromeliaceae - FINGERNAIL PLANT - Brazil Nephelium lappaceum - Sapindaceae - RAMBUTAN/MSHOKISHOKI - Malaya Nephrolepis bifurcata furcans - Polypodiaceae: Filices - FISHTAIL FERN
- Africa, Cuba to Brazil,Hong Kong to Queensland Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ - Filices: Polypodiaceae
- BOSTON FERN - Boston hybrid Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Whitmanii’ - Filices: Polypodiaceae
- LACE FERN - Tropical Nerium oleander - Apocynaceae - OLEANDER - Mediterranean,
Arabia, North Africa Nerium oleander variegatum - Apocynaceae
- STRIPE-LEAVED OLEANDER - Subtropic hybrid Newtonia hildebrandtii - Mimosoideae - Africa Nidularium tegelioides - Bromeliaceae - Brazil Odontonema strictum - Acanthaceae - Central America Ophiopogon jaburan ‘Variegatus’ - Liliaceae - VARIEGATED MONDO GRASS - Java Ophiopogon japonicus - Liliaceae - SNAKE’S BEARD - Japan Opuntia littoralis - Cactaceae - PRICKLY PEAR/MPUNGATE
- South America, indig. East Africa Pachystachys lutea - Acanthaceae - LOLLYPOPS PLANT - Peru Panax fruticosum - Araliaceae - Tropical Panax fruticosum ‘Guilfoylei’ - Araliaceae - WILD COFFEE - Tropical Panax fruticosum ‘Victoriae’ - Araliaceae - Tropical Pancratium zeylanicum - Amaryllidaceae - Tropical Asia Pandanus kirkii - Pandanaceae - SCREWPINE/MKADI - East Africa Pandanus livingstonianus - Pandanaceae - SCREWPINE - East Africa Pandanus utilis - Pandanaceae - COMMON SCREWPINE - Madagascar Pandanus veitchii - Pandanaceae - VARIEGATED SCREWPINE - Polynesia Passiflora edulis - Passifloraceae - PURPLE GRANADILLA - New World Tropics Passiflora quadrangulensis - Passifloraceae
- GIANT GRANADILLA - Tropical America Pellionia daveauana - Urticaceae - TRAILING WATERMELON BEGONIA
- South Vietnam, Malaya, Burma Peltophorum pterocarpum/ferrugineum - Caesalpiniaceae - COPPERPOD - India Pennisetum seraceum ‘Cupreum’ - Gramineae - RED FOUNTAIN GRASS - Africa Pentas lanceolata - Rubiaceae - EGYPTIAN STAR CLUSTER
- Tropical Africa, Arabia Pentas parviflora - Rubiaceae - East Africa Pentas zanzibarensis - Rubiaceae - KIVUMA NYUKI - Zanzibar Peperomia campylotropa - Peperaceae - Mexico Pereskia grandifolia - Cactaceae - ROSE CACTUS -Brazil Persea americana - Lauraceae - AVOCADO/MPEA - Tropical America Petrea kohautiana - Verbenaceae - PURPLE WREATH TREE
- Trinidad, Guyana, Venezuela Petrea volubilis - Verbenaceae - PURPLE WREATH CREEPER - Mexico to Panama Philodendron eichleri - Araceae - KING OF TREE-PHILODENDRONS - Brazil Philodendron fragrans - Araceae - Brazil Philodendron lacerum - Araceae - COMMON PHILODENDRON - Brazil Philodendron panduraeforme - Araceae - FIDDLE LEAF - So. Brazil Philodendron x ‘Wend-imbe’ - Araceae - PHILODENDRON
- Costa Rica, Panama hybrid Phyllostachys nigra - Gramineae - BLACK BAMBOO - Southern China Pilea cadierei - Urticaceae - ALUMINIUM PLANT - Vietnam Pilea depressa - Urticaceae - MINIATURE PEPEROMIA - Puerto Rico Pilea spruceana ‘Norfolk’ - Urticaceae - ANGELWINGS - Peru Pimenta racemosa - Myrtaceae - BAY RUM - West Indies Pinus patula - Pinaceae - MEXICAN WEEPING PINE - Mexico Piper nigrum - Piperaceae - PEPPER/MPILIPILI MANGA - Himalayas Pistia stratiotes - Araceae - WATER LETTUCE - Tropical America Pithecellobium dulce - Mimosaceae - MADRAS THORN - Mexico Pleomele reflexa - Liliaceae - MALAYSIAN DRACAENA
- Madagascar, Mauritius, India Plumbago auriculata/capensis - Plumbaginaceae - LEADWORT - SouthAfrica Plumeria acuminata - Apocynaceae - FRANGIPANI/TREE OF LIFE - Mexico Plumeria obtusa - Apocynaceae - SINGAPORE FRANGIPANI - Singapore Plumeria rubra - Apocynaceae - MBONO WA KIZUNGU - Central America Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolor’ - Apocynaceae - ORANGE FRANGIPANI - Central America Pogonatherum paniceum - Gramineae - DWARF BAMBOO - Zanzibar + Pemba Polianthes tuberosa - Amaryllidaceae - TUBEROSE - Mexico Polyalthia longifolia pendula - Annonaceae - ASHOK/MAST TREE - India Polypodium scolopendria - Polypodiaceae
- GROUND FERN/MKUTIKUTI - Zanzibar and Pemba Polyscias fruiticosa - Araliaceae - PARSLEY PANAX
- Polynesia, Malaysia, India Polyscias guilfoylei - Araliaceae - WILD COFFEE - Pacific and Malaysia Polyscias guilfoylei ‘Filicifolia’ - Aralaceae - FERNLEAF PANAX - Hawaii Polyscias guilfoylei ‘Quincefolia’ - Araliaceae
- CELERY LEAF ARALIA - Florida Polyscias guilfoylei ‘Victoriae’ - Araliaceae - LACE ARALIA - Polynesia Pongemia pinnata - Papilionoidiae - INDIAN BEECH - India Pontederia lanceolata - Pontederiaceae - PICKEREL WEED - Southeast USA Portulaca foliosa - Portulacaceae - East Africa Portulaca grandiflora - Portulacaceae - MOSS ROSE - Brazil Psidium guajava - Myrtaceae - GUAVA - South America, Mexico, West Indies Pteris cretica - Filices: Polypodiaceae - TABLE FERN - Tropical Pterocarpus angolensis - Papilionoidiae - ROSEWOOD/MNINGA - East Africa Punica granatum - Punicaceae - POMEGRANATE/MKOMAMANGA
- Persia to the Hindu Kush Quesnelia liboniana - Bromeliaceae - Brazil Quisqualis indica - Combretaceae - RANGOON CREEPER - Burma to New Guinea Ravenala madagascariensis - Musaceae - TRAVELLER’S TREE - Madagascar Rhektophyllum mirabile - Araceae - Nigeria Rhipsalis cassutha - Cactaceae - MISTLETOE CACTUS - Tanzania Rhoeo discolor - Commelinaceae - LADIES-IN-A-BOAT - Mexico Rhoeo spathacea ‘Vittata’ - Commelinaceae - VARIEGATED BOAT LILY
- Mexico hybrid Rhus incisa - Anacardiaceae - RUB-RUB BERRY - Africa Ricinus communis - Euphorbiaceae - CASTOR OIL/MBARIKA - Tropical Africa Rosa Floribunda ‘Queen Elizabeth’ - Rosaceae - ROSE
- China, Europe, Western Asia Ruellia amoena - Acanthaceae - RED CHRISTMAS PRIDE - South America Russelia equisetiformis - Scrophulariaceae - CORAL PLANT - Mexico Saccharum officinarum - Gramineae - SUGAR CANE/MIWA - New Guinea Samanea saman - Caesalpiniaceae - RAIN/MONKEYPOD TREE - South America Sansevieria kirkii - Liliaceae - MKONGE - Zanzibar Sansevieria scabrifolia - Liliaceae - East Africa Sansevieria trifasciata - Liliaceae - SNAKE PLANT - Africa Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ - Liliaceae
- VARIEGATED SNAKE PLANT - Africa Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’ - Liliaceae
- SHORT SANSIEVERIA - Trop. hybrid Sapindus saponaria - Sapindaceae - SOAPBERRY/MHARITA - Brazil Scilla violacea - Liliaceae - SILVER QUILL - Africa Scindapsus aureus - Araceae - DEVIL’S IVY - Solomon Islands Scindapsus aureus ‘Marble Queen’ - Araceae - TARO VINE - Tropical Scindapsus aureus ‘Wilcoxii’ - Araceae - GOLDEN POTHOS - California Scindapsus sp. ‘Exotica’ - Araceae - New Guinea
- Jamaica, Cuba Sesbania grandiflora - Papilionoidiae - CORKWOOD TREE - India to Australia Setcreasea purpurea - Commelinaceae - PURPLE HEART VINE - Mexico Siphonochilus aethiopicus - Zingiberaceae - KAEMPFERIA PINK - Africa Solanum seaforthianum - Solanaceae - POTATO VINE - Brazil Sonneratia alba - Lythraceae - MANGROVE/MPITA/MLILANA
- wild in Zanzibar and Pemba Spathiphyllum clevelandii - Araceae - WHITE FLAG/PEACE LILY
- Tropical America Spathiphyllum commutatum - Araceae - LARGE SPATHE FLOWER
- Indonesia, Philippines Spathiphyllum patinii - Araceae - SPATHE FLOWER - Colombia Spathodea campanulata - Bignoniaceae - AFRICAN TULIP/NANDI FLAME - Uganda Spathoglottis plicata - Orchidaceae - Malaysia Spondias cytherea - Anacardiaceae - GOLDEN APPLE/MWEMBE WA KIZUNGU
- Pacific Islands Stachytarpheta jamaicensis - Verbenaceae - DEVIL’S COACHWHIP
- Jamaica, indig. East Africa Stachytarpheta spp. - Verbenaceae - VERVAIN/KIKWAYAKWAYA
- wild in Zanzibar and Pemba Stapelia nobilis - Asclepiadaceae - STARFISH FLOWER CACTUS - Mozambique Stapelia semota lutea - Asclepiadaceae - Tanzania Stenotaphrum dimidiatum - Gramineae - PEMBA GRASS - Pemba Strelitzia reginae - Strelitziaceae - BIRD-OF-PARADISE FLOWER - South Africa Strobilanthes dyerianus - Acanthaceae - PERSIAN SHIELD - Burma Syngonium podophyllum ‘Albo-virens’ - Araceae - WHITE LEAF SYNGONIUM
- Mexico, Nicaragua Sygonium podophyllum ‘Tri-leaf wonder’ - Araceae - ARROWLEAF PLANT - Tropical Syngonium podophyllum ‘Variegatum’ - Araceae - AFRICAN EVERGREEN
- Mexico, Nicaragua Syzygium cuminii - Myrtaceae - JAVA PLUM/MZAMBARAO - India, Tropical Asia Tabernaemontana coronaria - Apocynaceae - CRAPE JASMINE - India Tabernaemontana corymbosa - Apocynaceae - FLOWER OF LOVE - India Tagetes spp. - Compositae - MARIGOLD - South America and Mexico Tamarindus indicus - Caesalpiniaceae - TAMARIND/MKWAJU - India + Africa Tecoma stans - Bignoniaceae - YELLOW BELLS - Mexico + Central America Tectona grandis - Verbenaceae - TEAK/MSAJI - South East Asia Telanthera bettzickiana - Amarantaceae - JOSEPH’S COAT - West Indies Terminalia catappa - Combretaceae - INDIAN ALMOND - Madagascar to Bonin Terminalia fratraea - Combretaceae - MKUNGUNI - Zanzibar and Pemba Thespesia populnea - Malvaceae - BEACH HIBISCUS/MTAKAWA
- Tropical seashores Thevetia peruviana - Apocynaceae - BE-STILL TREE - Central + South America Thunbergia erecta - Acanthaceae - KING’S MANTLE - West Africa Thunbergia grandiflora - Acanthaceae - CLOCK VINE - India Thunbergia grandiflora ‘Alba’ - Acanthaceae - WHITE THUNBERGIA
- Indian hybrid Thunbergia mysorensis - Acanthaceae - India Tillandsia cyanea - Bromeliaceae - PINK QUILL - Ecuador Tillandsia usneiodes - Bromeliaceae - SPANISH MOSS
- USA to Argentina and Chile Trema orientalis - Ulmaceae - PIGEONWOOD - Africa Trichocereus pachanoi - Cactaceae - NIGHT BLOOMING SAN PEDRO - Ecuador Triphasia trifolia - Rutaceae - MYRTLE LIME/MDIMU WA CHINA - Asia Uvaria sp. - Annonaceae - MKILUA - India Vangueria madagascariensis - Rubiaceae - WILD MEDLAR -Africa Vanilla planifolia - Orchidaceae - VANILLA/MVANILA - Mexico Verbena hybrida - Verbenaceae - VERBENA - Brazil to Chile Wedelia trilobata - Compositae - CREEPING DAISY - W. Indies, N So. America Yucca aloifolia - Liliaceae - SPANISH BAYONET
- S.E. United States, Mexico, West Indies Zamia furfuracea - Zamiaceae - JAMAICA SAGO - Mexico Zebrina pendula - Commelinaceae - WANDERING JEW - Mexico Zephyranthes spp. - Amaryllidaceae - ‘CROCUS’
- West Indies and tropical America Zingiber officinale - Zingiberaceae - GINGER/MTANGAWIZI - Pacific Islands Zingiber zerumbet - Zingiberaceae - BITTER GINGER - India to Polynesia Ziziphus mauritiana - Rhamnaceae - INDIAN JUJUBE/MKUNAZI – India
Scientific Index of Palms
PALMAE FAMILY:
Acoelorraphe wrightii – SILVER SAW PALMETTO – Central America,
West Indies and Florida Aiphanes caryotifolia - Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador Aiphanes erinacea – Colombia, Ecuador Archontophoenix alexandre - ALEXANDER/KING PALM - Eastern Australia Archontophoenix cunninghamia - PICCABEAN/BANGALOW PALM - Eastern Australia Areca catechu - BETEL NUT/MPOPOO - South East Asia Areca triandra - India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines Arenga caudate var. Stenophylla - Thailand Arenga engleri - Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, India Arenga hookeriana - Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia Arenga obtusifolia - India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia Arenga pinnata - SUGAR/GOMUTI PALM
- India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia Arenga undulatifolia - Borneo, Indonesia, Philippines Arenga sp. - Prachinburi, Thailand Attalea cohune - COHUNE PALM - Belize, El Salvador, Honduras,
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Southern Mexico Bactris gasipaes - PEACH PALM - Amazonian parts of Brazil,
Peru, Columbia, Central America Balaka gracilis - Endemic to Fiji Beccariophoenix madagascariensis - Madagascar Bismarckia nobilis - BISMARCK PALM - North and West Madagascar Borassus aethiopum - BORASSUS/MVUMO - Africa Brahea armata - BLUE HESPER PALM - Baja California (North-West Mexico) Carpentaria acuminata - CARPENTARIA PALM - Northern Territory, Australia Caryota gigas – South East Asia Caryota mitis - COMMON FISHTAIL PALM - Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Minahasa Peninsula of the North Celebes, Java, Sumatra Caryota no - Borneo Caryota urens - TODDY/JAGGERY PALM - India, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka Chamaedorea costaricana - COSTA RICAN BAMBOO PALM - Costa Rica, Panama,
Nicaragua, Honduras Chamaedorea elegans - PARLOUR PALM - Mexico, Guatemala, Belize Chamaedorea erneste-augustii – Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras Chamaedorea glaucifolia - Mexico Chamaedorea graminifolia - Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica Chamaedorea microspadix - Mexico Chamaedorea metallica - MINIATURE FISHTAIL PALM - Mexico Chamaedorea plumosa - Mexico Chamaedorea potchulensis - Mexico Chamaedorea radicalis - Mexico Chamaedorea sartorii - Mexico, Honduras
Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia Chamaedorea warscewiczii – Panama, Costa Rica Chamaerops humilis - MEDITERRANEAN FAN PALM - Western Meditteranean Chambeyronia macrocarpa - New Caledonia Coccothrinax argentata - SILVER THATCH/FLORIDA SILVER PALM - Bahamas,
Florida Keys and Southeastern Coast (USA) Coccothrinax argentea - Hispaniola Coccothrinax litoralis - Cuba Coccothrinax miraguama – Cuba Cocos nucifera var. “East African tall” - COCONUT/MNAZI
- tropical and subtropical
locations; origin probably the Pacific Basin Cocos nucifera var. “Pemba dwarf” - COCONUT/MADAFU
- origin probably Pacific Basin Copernicia baileyana - YAREY PALM - Endemic to Cuba Copernicia macroglossa - Cuba Copernicia prunifera - CARNAUBA WAX PALM - Northeastern Brazil Copernicia rigida - Cuba Corypha umbraculifera – India, South East Asia Cryosphila argentata – SILVERY ROOTSPINE PALM
– Western Mexico to Northern Columbia Cryosophila nana - ROOTSPINE PALM - Western Mexico to Northern Columbia Cryosophila warscewizsii - Western Mexico to Northern Columbia Cyrtostachys renda – SEALING WAX/LIPSTICK PALM – Peninsular Malaysia,
Southern Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra Deckenia nobilis - PALMISTE - Seychelle Islands Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum - HURRICANE/PRINCESS PALM
- Mascarene Islands Drymophloeus olivaeformis - Moluccas, New Guinea and Solomon Islands Dypsis ambasindare - Madagascar Dypsis cabadae - CABADAE PALM - Only known from cultivated plants, origin unknown; believed to be from the Comoro Islands or Madagascar Dypsis decaryii - TRIANGLE PALM - Southern Madagascar Dypsis decipiens - Madagascar Dypsis lutescens - GOLDEN CANE/ARECA/BUTTERFLY PALM - Eastern Madagascar Dypsis madagascariensis - MADAGASCAR PALM
- Nossi Be Island and Northwestern and Western Madagascar Dypsis pembana (from seeds ex Ngezi Forest, Pemba)
- PEMBA PALM/MPAPINDI - Endemic in Pemba Island, Tanzania Dypsis pembana (hybridized variety from Sultan’s Palm Garden, Zanzibar)
- PEMBA PALM - Zanzibar Island, Tanzania Elaeis guineensis - AFRICAN OIL PALM /MKIKICHI
- Tropical, West and Central Africa and Madagascar Euterpe oleracea - ASSAI PALM - Brazil and North Coast of South America Gastrococos crispa - CUBAN BELLY PALM - Cuba Gronophyllum ramsayii – Northern Territory, Australia Heterospathe elata – Phillipines, Moluccas, Guam, Palau Islands Howea belmoreana - KENTIA BELMOREANA - Lord Howe Island Hyophorbe lagenicaulis - BOTTLE PALM - Round Island (Mascarene Islands) Hyophorbe verschaffeltii - SPINDLE PALM
- Endemic to Rodriguez Island (Mascarene Islands) Hyphaene compressa - EAST AFRICAN/BRANCHING DOUM PALM
- Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique Hyphaene coriacea - DOUM/ELALA PALM - from South Africa (Natal)
north through Tropical East Africa, Somalia & Madagascar Hyphaene petersiana - SINGLE DOUM PALM
- South Africa, Tanzania, Zaire, Angola, Namibia Latania loddigesii - BLUE LATAN - Mascarene Islands Latania lontaroides - RED LATAN - Mascarene Islands Latania verschaffeltii - YELLOW LATAN - Rodriguez Island (Mascarene Islands) Licuala grandis - RUFFLED FAN PALM - Vanuatu (New Hebrides Islands) Licuala lauterbachii - New Guinea, Bougainville Islands, Solomon Islands Licuala peltata - India, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand Licuala ramsayii - Northeast Queensland (Australia) Licuala rumphii - Eastern Indonesia Licuala spinosa - SPINY LICUALA - Peninsular Malaysia, Phillipines,
Thailand, Andaman Islands, Sumatra, Java, Borneo Livistona australis - AUSTRALIAN FAN PALM - Eastern Australia Livistona chinensis - CHINESE FAN/FOUNTAIN PALM
- Ryukyu and Bonin Islands,
Volcano Islands and Kyushu Islands (Japan) Livistona chinensis var. subglobosa
- WILD CHINESE FAN PALM - Japan, Ryukyu and Bonin Islands Livistona rotundifolia - FOOTSTOOL PALM
- Philippines, the Indonesian Islands Lytocarium weddellianum - MINIATURE COCONUT - Brazil Nannorrhops ritcheana – MAZARI PALM – Afghanistan, Arabia, Iran, Pakistan Normambya nomanbyii - QUEENSLAND BLACK PALM
- Northeastern Queensland Oncosperma tigilarium – NIBUNG PALM
– Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Peninsular Malaysia Orania palindan - Islands of Luzon and Sibuyan (Phillipines) Pelagodoxa henryana – Marquesas Islands Phoenix canariensis - CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM - Canary Islands Phoenix dactylifera - DATE PALM/MTENDE - North Africa, Middle East, India Phoenix reclinata - AFRICAN WILD DATE PALM/MKINDU
- Tropical and Southern Africa Phoenix roebelenii - DWARF/PIGMY DATE PALM - Northeast India, Myanmar (Burma) Phoenix rupicola - CLIFF DATE PALM - India Phoenix sylvestris - INDIAN WILD DATE PALM - India Pinanga caesia - Tropical Southeast Asia Pinanga coronata/kuhlii - IVORY CANE/PINANG PALM - Sumatra, Java Polyandrococos caudescens – BURI PALM - Brazil Pritchardia pacifica - FIJI FAN PALM - Tonga, Western Samoa and Fiji Pritchardia thurstonii - Fiji Ptychococcus paradoxus – New Guinea rainforest Ptychosperma caryotoides - New Guinea, Australia Ptychosperma cuneatum - Tropical Southeast Asia to Norheastern Australia Ptychosperma elegans - SOLITAIRE PALM - Northeastern Australia Ptychosperma lineare - Southeastern New Guinea Ptychosperma macarthurii - MACARTHUR PALM – S. Central New Guinea,
Torres Strait Islands, Eastern Cape York Peninsula Ptychosperma microcarpa - Central New Guinea Ptychosperma propinquam - Moluccas and
Islands adjacent to West Irian (E. Indonesia) Ptychosperma robustum, var. clumping - New Guinea Ptychosperma sanderianum – Easternmost New Guinea Raphia farinifera - RAFFIA PALM/MWALE - humid regions of Africa Ravenea rivularis - MAJESTY PALM - South Central Madagascar Ravenea xerophylla - Madagascar Reinhardtia gracilis – WINDOW PANE PALM – Mexico, Central America Rhapis excelsa - LADY PALM - Southern China Rhapis lacensis - Thailand Rhapis subtilis var. wild, endemic - Pracinburi, Thailand Rhopaloblaste augusta – NICOBAR MAJESTIC PALM – Nicobar Islands Roystonea dunlopiana - Honduras Roystonea oleracea - CARIBBEAN ROYAL/CABBAGE PALM - Trinidad, Tobago,
Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, Venezuela Roystonea regia - CUBAN ROYAL PALM - Cuba, Honduras Sabal causiarum - PUERTO RICAN HAT PALM - Puerto Rica, Anegada,
Haiti, Dominican Republic Sabal mauritiiformis - SAVANNAH PALM - Mexico, Central America,
olumbia and Venezuela, Trinidad Sabal palmetto - PALMETTO PALM/CABBAGE PALMETTO - Peninsular Florida,
Coastal Georgia, Carolina, Cuba, Bahamas Sabal princeps - West Indies Sabal riverside - South America Salacca zalacca - SALAK PALM - Indonesia Serenoa repens – SAW PALMETTO – Southeastern USA Syagrus flexuosa - South America Syagrus picrophylla - South America Syagrus romanzoffiana - QUEEN PALM
- Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil Syagrus sancona - Peru Thrinax parviflora - THATCH PALM - Jamaica Trachycarpus fortunei - CHINESE WINDMILL/CHUSAN PALM - China Veitchia joannis - Endemic to Fiji Veitchia merrillii - CHRISTMAS/MANILA PALM
- Endemic to the Phillipines Veitchia montgomeryana - MONTGOMERY PALM - Vanuatu (New Hebrides) Veitchia sp. - Vanuatu, Fiji, Phillipine Islands Verschaffeltia splendida - STILT PALM - Seychelle Islands Wallichia disticha - WALLICH PALM - India, Myanmar (Burma) Washingtonia filifera - CALIFORNIA COTTON PALM - S.E. California,
W. Arizona, (USA) Baja, California (Mexico) Washingtonia robusta - SKYDUSTER - Baja, California and Sonora, Mexico Wodyetia bifurcate – FOXTAIL PALM – North Queensland, Australia