Part 35

=saḅada= or =safada=, vide under =ḍorowa=.

=sabani=, Tephrosia elongata, Hook. (Leguminosæ); a tall slender plant with pink flowers and pinnate leaves; used as a medicinal charm. Syn. =samachi=. (Etym. “rupture of friendship”—if a leaflet be sharply pulled apart it tears in a forked manner suggesting the parting of roads or disagreement, such as occurs when one challenges another to split it straight), cf. =shege=.

=sabara=, Guiera senegalensis, Lam. (Combretaceæ). A shrub with whitish dusty-looking leaves, very abundant in dry infertile regions; a typical plant of dry scrub localities with a small rainfall. Leaves used in various ways as medicine and also as food in some northern districts; burnt to fumigate cattle-pens, &c. to keep off flies; as maganin rongomi by women after parturition; in Sokoto a recognized prophylactic of leprosy; &c., &c.

=saḅi=, vide =baya=, Panicum albidulum, Kunth. (Gramineæ). A wild grass with edible grain gathered by sweeping a calabash across the heads. (Etym. from the method of gathering saḅi, and thus perhaps applied to more than one species). cf. =garaji=.

=saḅi= or =shiḅa= = carded cotton; vide under =abduga=.

=sabko= (or =sauko=) =bubukuwa=, vide =bubukuwa=.

=sabulun kuyangi=, Zornia diphylla, Pers. (Leguminosæ), a low herb with paired leaflets; sometimes used as fodder and medicinally; said to form a slight lather with water. (Etym. “slaves’ soap”). Syn. =sabulun sallo=.

=sabulum mata= (Sok. Zanf. and Kats.), Vernonia primulina, O. Hoffm. (Compositæ). An erect plant, 1 to 2 feet high, with blue thistle-like flowers. Syn. =tozalin kura=.

=safa= (Sok.), or =shafa= (Kano and East), spring onion; vide =albasa=.

=sa furfura= (Sok.), Crotalaria polychotoma, Taub. (Leguminosæ). A small herb with yellow flowers and pale pubescent leaves; supposed, if accidentally given to an infant, to cause the hair to turn grey before puberty. ?Syn. =yauki=, q.v.

=sagagi= (Katagum), Indigofera simplicifolia, Lam. (Leguminosæ). A stiff-branched undershrub with small narrow pods.

=sa hankaki dako=, Polygala arenaria, Willd. (Polygalaceæ). A small field herb, used medicinally in cases of serious internal disease, syphilis, &c. (Etym. “cause the crows to wait,” because supposed to be very poisonous). Syn. =sha ni ka san ni=; and =gujiyar dawaki= (Zanfara).

=sainya= (Kano, Kats., &c.), Securidaca longipedunculata, Fres. (Polygalaceæ). A shrub with purple flowers and a winged seed. The root has a rank smell and is used medicinally in many ways, as a purge, worn as a charm, &c. Syn. =uwar magunguna= (Sok., &c.—“mother of medicines”). It is an occasional ingredient in some prescriptions for arrow-poison.

=sakata=, a var. of yam, said to be inferior to others and not used for sokwara. (Dioscorea alata, L.). cf. =doya=.

=salla=, vide =shalla=.

=samachi=, vide =sabani=.

=samarin danga=, a name for the tree Moringa pterygosperma (vide =zogalagandi=), because commonly planted as a compound fence.

=sambara= = =dawa= or =gero=, &c. half-grown at harvest, and left to mature later.

=samberu=, a tree the leaves of which are poisonous to cattle.

=samsam=, vide under =riḍi=.

=sandalu=, vide under =goro=.

=sandan biri=, =s. dutsi=, or =s. yan bori=, vide under =giginyar biri=.

=sandan mayu=, a name for more than one tree with magical uses; vide under =bakin mutum= and =dawo=.

=sanga sanga= (Sok. and West), Cassia occidentalis, Linn. Syn. =rai ḍore=, q.v.

=saniya=, an Asclepiad plant with milky sap; vide under =rojiya= and =tafo ka sha mama=.

=sankachen dawa=, =s. gero= = corn reaped and laid out in lines to dry.

=sankwo= (Kano), Syncolostemon ocymoides, Sch. et Thon. (Labiatæ); a wild herb related to =tumuku=, q.v. with wrinkled leaves, spikes of deep red flowers, and a tuberous root. Syn. =tumukun biri=.

=sansami= (or =sasămi=), Stereospermum Kunthianum, Cham. (Bignoniaceæ). A small tree with smooth bark, beautiful pink flowers and long narrow pendulous pods. The bark is used medicinally. Syn. =jiri=. (This tree is apparently held in much respect; in Sokoto, &c. called ḍan sarikin itatuwa, and not cut for firewood). kauchin sansami, the parasitic plant Loranthus (vide =kauchi=), when growing on this species is considered a lucky find.