Part 34

=rigyar biri=, vide =tsuwawun biri=.

=rigya kafi= (Sok.), a native prescription and reputed remedy for syphilis composed of the plants =damaigi=, =fara biya rana=, =fasa ḳabba= and =ḳuru ḳuru=, q.v.

=rimani= = the fruit of the pomegranate, Punica Granatum, L. cf. =ruman=, the flowers of the same.

=rimi= (Kano, &c.) or =rini= (Sok.), Eriodendron orientale, Steud. (Malvaceæ). White Silk Cotton Tree. The silky floss around the seeds forms the upholstery material called “Kapok;” =rimin Masar=, a variety without thorns on the branches when young, and with a superior cotton.

=rimin agwada=, Sopubia simplex, Hochst. and other spp. (Scrophularineæ). An erect herb in the bush with narrow leaves and pink flowers. (agwada = Rock dassie, Procavia sp.).

=rimin samari=, Oldenlandia grandiflora, Hiern. (Rubiaceæ). A common slender-branched herb of fields and waste places, with bright red 4-partite flowers. Also O. senegalensis, Hiern. a similar plant with smaller less conspicuous flowers. Used as a love-potion or charm for popularity.

=rimni= (Sok.), Salix sp. (Salicaceæ). A common species of willow on river-banks. Syn. =ba ruwana=, q.v.

=risga=, a cultivated plant with an edible tuber. Plectranthus sp. (Labiatæ); like the “Kaffir Potato,” P. esculentus, N.E. Br.

=risgar kurege=, Asclepias lineolata, Schl. (Asclepiadeæ). A shrub with milky juice and umbels of purple flowers; the spindle-shaped root tubers are used medicinally.

=roba=, Panicum pyramidale, Lam. (Gramineæ). A tall grass of marshy places; (probably applied to several grasses).

=rogo=, Manihot palmata, Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceæ). Sweet Cassava or Manioc; and Manihot utilissima, Pohl. Bitter Cassava. The former or non-poisonous species is the one chiefly cultivated in Nigeria, cf. =ḳarasa=. rogon sabara or r. magariya (Sok.) are terms used for Cassava grown in arid areas (=sabara= and =magariya=, q.v. being shrubs of dry scrub districts).

=rogon biri=, vide =ḳosain rogo=.

=rogon daji=, a species of vine with thickened roots; vide =tsibiri kinkini=; (also applied to other twiners with thickened roots, e.g. a wild species of yam, Dioscorea sp., a species of Clematis, &c.).

=rojiya= or =lojiya=, a perennial herb (Asclepiadeæ), with long narrow leaves milky juice and an edible succulent tuberous root-stock. rojiyar mahalba, Xysmalobium Heudelotianum, Decne (Asclepiadeæ); a somewhat similar plant with milky juice, short leaves, lateral umbels of small flowers, and a harder tuberous root edible when cooked. (The names bauje, saniya and daiyo, probably refer to the same or allied Asclepiad plants or “Milkweeds,” with tuberous roots, e.g. Schizoglossum Petherickianum, Oliv. which has short broad leaves and umbels of white flowers).

=roko=, a var. of bean; vide under =wake=.

=rubiya= or =lubiya= = the edible figs of several species of Ficus:—=ḅaure=, =cheḍiya=, =durumi=, =gamji=, q.v. (The name is sometimes extended to include other fruits of similar shape, &c. e.g. dates, the grapes of =dafara=, q.v., &c.).

=ruguguwa=, vide under =kabewa=.

=ruḳuḅu=, vide =zaḳi banza=.

=roma fada= or =rauma fada=, Scoparia dulcis, L. (Scrophularineæ). “Sweet Broom Weed.” A common herb with small white flowers. (Etym. from use as a charm to ensure “court favour;” roma = rakiya, to act as companion or sponsor). namijin roma fada, Heliotropium zeylanicum, Lam. (Boragineæ); a weed used medicinally; vide under =Gwanja kusa=; (probably applied to several plants with some resemblance to =roma fada=).

=ruman= = flowers of pomegranate; vide =rimani=; (ruman, the Indian name).

=rumana=, Gladiolus spicatus, Klatt. G. quartinianus, A. Rich. G. unguiculatus, Baker, and other species (Irideæ). Common gladioli with edible corms.

rumanan doki, a plant with a larger bulb used as a medicine for horses. A large species in the Benué district is sold for making a sweet food kunun zaḳi.

=rumaya=, a slender grass with tough stems, used for cordage, tying thatch, &c.

=rumfar gada=, Cassytha guineensis, Sch. et Thon. (Lauraceæ), a parasitic leafless and rootless twiner like dodder, with wiry stems and small clusters of white flowers and berries. Syn. ?=siliyar sulkuwa=.

=runhu= or =rumfu=, Cassia goratensis, Fres. (Leguminosæ); a small tree with yellow flowers; an infusion of the leaves and pods is used as a wash in parturition, and for fever. cf. =rai ḍore=.

=rura=, Parinarium curatellæfolium, Planch. (Rosaceæ); a small tree with an edible mealy pear-shaped fruit; vide under =Gwanja kusa= and =ḳaiḳai=.

=S=

=sa baba sata=, a species of cultivated bean; ?the “yam bean,” vide =giri giri=.