Part 31

=makubar mahalba=, vide under =kirni=.

=maḳworin maḳwododo=, vide =ḳwododon kwaḍo=.

=malafiya= (or =marafiya=), Corchorus olitorius, L. (Tiliaceæ). “Jews’ Mallow.” One of the jute plants, cultivated in N. Nigeria more as a vegetable than for fibre. (Arab. molukhiya).

=malami= or =malami na mata=, Mukia scabrella, Arn. (Cucurbitaceæ); a small twiner with rough leaves and red berries resembling Bryony. (Etym. from its frequent use as a love-charm). Syn. =gautan zomo=.

=malamkochi=, vide =zaḳi banza=.

=malga= or =marga=, vide =gamma faḍa=.

=malle=, =m. kabi=, =m. mama=, =m. Zanfara=; varieties of =dawa=, q.v.

=malmo=, Eugenia owariensis, Beauv. (Myrtaceæ); an evergreen tree with fragrant flowers and leaves, and black or purple berries; common by streams and pools.

=mangoro=, the name given to the mango, Mangifera indica, Linn. (Anacardiaceæ).

=manta uwa=, 1. A medicine given to a child at weaning, or to prevent a slave running away (etym. “forget mother”); the name is applied to several plants; (in Katagum the species was Crotalaria arenaria, R. Br. Leguminosæ, a low weed with small yellow flowers and inflated pods). 2. A name for some epiphytic orchids, e.g. Ansellia congoensis, Rodiges, &c. (etym. because growing on trees away from the ground). vide =muruchin bissa=.

=marafiya=, vide =malafiya=.

=maraguwa=, vide =ḳini=.

=marasiri=, vide under =riḍi=.

=marga= or =malga=, vide =gamma faḍa=.

=mariḳe=, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Guill. et Perr. (Combretaceæ). A tree with small pale leaves and balls of whitish flowers; a good timber; it yields a soluble gum; the fruit is used as a vermifuge for horses, &c. “Chew-stick Tree.” =ḍan marike= (Katagum, &c.), Indigofera secundiflora, Poir. (Leguminosæ). A weed or low undershrub with pale pinnate leaves covered with a gummy glandular secretion.

=marin kusu=, Pupalia lappacea, Juss. (Amaranthaceæ); a straggling spiny weed of waste places, resembling =ḳaimin ḳadangare=, q.v. (Etym. “mouse’s irons”).

=marmare=, a var. of =dawa=, q.v.

=marsa=, a var. of kola nut; vide under =goro=.

=masaki=, a large calabash; vide under =duma=.

=masakowa= or =mazakwa=, a dry-season var. of Guinea-Corn; vide under =dawa=.

=masara=, Zea Mays, Linn. (Gramineæ). Maize. Indian Corn. Varieties are:—m. wada, a dwarf variety; m. Fulani; m. kwona, tall with about 3 corn cobs with large white grain; kain masara or maburkaki = the terminal male inflorescence; goyon masara = the lateral fruiting spike or mealie cob; toton masara (Sok.), or kututu (Kano and East) = the cob after removal of seeds, used to make pipe-stems.

=mashayi=, Clerodendron capitatum, Sch. and Thonn. (Verbenaceæ). A shrub with bunches of tubular white flowers and purple berries; the pithy branches are used for pipe-stems. Etym. instrument used for smoking; cf. syn. =tataba= (Sok.).

=mashin zomo=, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. (Filices). “Adder’s tongue fern,” a small fern with simple leaf and erect fruiting spike. (Etym. “hare’s spear”).

=masoro=, “West Afr. Black Pepper,” “Benin Pepper;” small dried berries sold for spice and medicinal use; the fruit of Piper Clusii, Cas. DC. (?P. guineense, Piperaceæ); a climbing plant on trees in the South.

=masun ḳadangare=, vide =tsatsarar ḅera=.

=matakashi=, a plant resembling sesame (vide =riḍi=); used for soup.

=matsagi= or =matsatsagi=, vide =jirga=.

=matsarmama=, Physalis angulata, L. and P. minima, L. (Solanaceæ); common weeds of waste places with inflated calyx enclosing a small berry; (related to the Cape Gooseberry, P. peruviana); used medicinally. Etym. matsarmama = gall-bladder; also called =mai-lalita=—lalita = a small leather pouch. Syn. ?=domashin maza= (Katag.).