Table 1 List of medicinal plants used by the Sidama people in the Hawassa Zuria district

1

Acanthaceae

Acanthus eminens C. B. Clarke

Amesa buticho (Sd)

BN030

S

L, R

Boiling, chewing, spitting, liquid form

HL

‘Fancho,’ snakebite, wound, menstrual problem

2

Amaryllidaceae

Allium sativum L.

Netch shinkurt (Amh)

BN077

H

Bu, Fr, L

Eating, grinding, chewing, spitting

HL

Abdominal pain, malaria, ‘mitch’

3

Amaranthaceae

Amaranthus caudatus L.

Gerbabo (Sd)

ET053

Cl

R

Chewing, spitting

H

Cancer

4

Anacardiaceae

Schinus molle L.

Qundo berbere (Amh)

ET054

T

Ba, L

Chewing, squeezing

H

Toothache, ‘mitch,’ housefly

5

Anacardiaceae

Mangifera indica L.

Mango (Amh)

BN092

T

Fr

Eating

H

Disease protector

6

Anacardiaceae

Searsia natalensis (Bernh. ex C.Krauss) F.A.Barkley

Dawowesa (Sd)

ET001

T

L

Chewing, grinding, spitting, powdering

HL

Stomachache, snakebite, weight gain

7

Apocynaceae

Carissa spinarum L.

Gora (Sd), Agam (Amh)

BN046

Cl

R

Boiling

H

Diarrhea

8

Araceae

Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

Qolchoma (Sd)

BN068

T

L

Boiling, drinking

L

Placenta delay

9

Asteraceae

Vernonia filigera Oliv. & Hiern

Rejicho (Sd)

ET012

S

L

Grinding

H

Leg pain

10

Asteraceae

Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood

Amesa maeshana (Sd)

ET026

H

L

Chewing, spitting

HL

Ear disease

11

Asteraceae

Echinops kebericho Mesfin

Bursa (Sd), Kebricho (Amh)

BN066

H

R

Smoke form

H

Headache

12

Asteraceae

Vernonia schimperi DC.

Hecho (Sd), Gerawa (Amh)

BN076

H

Sh, Ba, L, R, St, Fr

Grinding, powdering, chewing, spitting, sprinkling, smoking

HL

Abdominal pain, wound, headache, back pain, ‘gadanesa’

13

Balanitaceae

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile

Godicho (Sd)

ET043

T

Fr

Chewing, liquid form, grinding

HL

Stomachache, diarrhea, headache

14

Boraginaceae

Cynoglossum coeruleum Hochst. ex. A.DC.

Hifaticho (Sd), Chigogit (Amh)

ET007

H

R

Chewing, spitting

H

Cancer

15

Boraginaceae

Ehretia cymosa Thonn.

Gidincho (Sd)

ET021

S

L, Ba

Chewing, grinding, boiling, squeezing, spitting

HL

Cancer, toothache, wound

16

Boraginaceae

Cordia africana Lam.

Wanza (Amh)

ET033

T

Ba

Chewing

H

Stomachache

17

Brassicaceae

Brassica carinata A. Braun

Ye habesha gomen (Amh)

BN089

H

L, Fr, St

Grinding, liquid form, rub

L

Eye wound, swelling of stomach, abdominal pain

18

Capparidaceae

Capparis tomentosa Lam.

Gaho (Sd), Gumore (Amh)

BN067

S

R, Fr

Grinding, chewing

HL

Abdominal pain, cancer, tonsillitis

19

Capparidiaceae

Maerua aethiopica (Fenzl) Oliv.

Qontir firae (Amh)

BN091

S

Fr

Chewing

H

Cancer

20

Capparidiaceae

Boscia angustifolia A. Rich.

Shisha (Sd)

BN101

S

L

Boiling

H

Swelling, butter sweetener

21

Caricaceae

Carica papaya L.

Papaya (Amh)

ET082

T

Fr, L, Lx, St, R

Eating, liquid form, squeezing, grinding,

H

Gastritis, malaria, tapeworm

22

Celastraceae

Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.

Chucho (Sd)

ET032

S

L

Chewing, spitting

L

Swelling

23

Celastraceae

Catha edulis (Vahl) Endl.

Chat (Amh)

ET050

S

L

Eating, boiling, chewing, spitting, mixed with water

H

Gastritis, gonorrhea, toothache, evil eye

24

Commelinaceae

Commelina africana L.

Lalonxe (Sd)

ET037

H

L, St

Rubbing, cutting grinding, liquid form

HL

Skin disease, chirt, quaqucha

25

Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.

Maxaxurisha (Sd)

BN064

H

R

Chewing, spitting

H

Wound

26

Crassulaceae

Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich.

Hanshulule (Sd)

ET016

H

L, Bu, R, Fr

Chewing, eating, grinding, squeezing

HL

Dingetegna,gastritis, eye pain

27

Cucurbitaceae

Peponium vogelii (Hook.f) Engl.

Surupa (Sd)

ET014

H

L, Fr

Grinding, eating, liquid form, boiling

HL

Malaria, wounds, stomachache

28

Cucurbitaceae

Cucurbita pepo L.

Balaqa (Sd)

ET052

H

L

Grinding

H

Swelling

29

Cucurbitaceae

Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. ex Spach

Basu baqula (Sd)

ET055

H

Fr, R, Ba, L

Grinding, chewing, hold on teeth

HL

Cough, cancer, black leg

30

Cucurbitaceae

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Buqe (Sd), Kel (Amh)

ET058

H

L

Grinding

H

Liver problem

31

Cucurbitaceae

Momordica foetida Schumach.

Herasae (Sd)

BN102

H

L

Liquid form, grinding

HL

Livestock disease, gastritis

32

Cucurbitaceae

Momordica boivinii Baill.

Kirae (Sd)

BN103

Cl

L, Fr

Grinding, eating, boiling, squeezing

HL

Stomachache, evil eye, weight gain

33

Cupressaceae

Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl.

Honicho (Sd)

BN072

T

L

Grinding

L

Diarrhea

34

Dioscoreaceae

Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Harae (Sd)

BN093

Cl

R, L

Grinding, chewing, spitting squeezing

HL

Gadanesa, evil eye, ‘fancho’

35

Euphorbiaceae

Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile

Besana (Amh): Masincho (Sd)

ET022

T

Sh, Fr, L

Grinding, liquid form, chewing, boiling

HL

Tuberculosis, gastritis, goiter

36

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia abyssinica J.F.Gmel.

Qulqual (Amh)

ET004

T

R, L, Lx, Fl, Fr, Ba

Chewing, liquid form, rubbing

HL

Swelling, gastritis, malaria, headache

37

Euphorbiaceae

Tragia brevipes Pax

Sonicho (Sd)

ET029

H

L, Fr, Fl

Grinding, eating

L

Evil eye, cancer, anthrax, diarrhea

38

Euphorbiaceae

Ricinus communis L.

Gulo (Amh)

ET018

S

R, Fr, L

Grinding, chewing, spitting

HL

Coughing, constipation, swelling

39

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia tirucalli L.

Qinchib, Maxo (Amh)

BN100

S

Lx

Cutting and drop the milk

H

‘Kintarot’

40

Fabaceae

Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

Chebicha (Sd)

ET017

S

L

Grinding, squeezing, liquid form, chewing

HL

‘Mitch,’ wound, eye disease, diarrhea

41

Fabaceae

Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker

Galachach (Sd)

ET047

T

Ba

Grinding, mix with water, chewing

H

‘Woranto,’ toothache

42

Fabaceae

Albizia gummifera (J.F.Gmel.) C.A.Sm.

Maticho (Sd), Sensel (Amh)

ET044

T

L, Fr, Ba, R, St

Grinding, boiling

HL

Swelling of stomach, evil eye

43

Fabaceae

Vigna sp.

Mae chorqaye (Sd)

ET040

Cl

L, Fr

Eating, grinding squeezing

HL

Gastritis, cancer, headache

44

Fabaceae

Acacia etbaica Schweinf.

Xedecha (Sd)

ET041

T

L, Ba

Powdering, grinding, chewing, spitting

L

Wound, cancer, swelling

45

Fabaceae

Acacia abyssinica Benth.

Doma Chucho (Sd)

ET036

T

L

Rubbing, spitting

L

‘Balaamo’

46

Fabaceae

Calpurnia aurea (Aiton) Benth.

Chekata, Chikea (Sd)

BN062

S

L, R, Sh

Chewing, rubbing, powdering, grinding

HL

Gastritis, stomachache, toothache,

47

Fabaceae

Acacia albida Delile

Bura (Sd)

BN065

T

St

Chewing, brushing

H

Toothache

48

Fabaceae

Senna septemtrionalis (Viv.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby.

Hamashaka (Sd)

BN069

H

L

Rubbing

H

Snakebite

49

Fabaceae

Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Abish (Sd)

BN079

H

St, Fr, L, R

Powdering, grinding, boiling, liquid form

H

Amoeba, weight gain, stomachache

50

Fabaceae

Acacia seyal Delile

Girar (Amh), Wacho (Sd)

BN090

T

L

Chewing, spitting

H

Cancer

51

Lamiaceae

Premna schimperi Engl.

Udo (Sd)

BN063

S

L, R, St

Grinding, chewing, rubbing, boiling

HL

Toothache, coughing, stomachache

52

Lamiaceae

Satureja punctata (Benth.) R.Br. ex Briq.

Amesa (Sd)

BN096

H

L

Boiling

H

‘Shifeta’/‘fancho’

53

Lamiaceae

Salvia nilotica Juss. ex Jacq.

Kot jebesa (Sd)

BN070

H

L,R, Ba

Chewing, spitting, grinding, rubbing

HL

‘Mitch,’ skin disease, toothache

54

Lamiaceae

Ocimum gratissimum L.

Damakese (Amh), Angabisha (Sd)

ET015

S

L, R

Grinding, eating,

smelling

HL

‘Mitch’, malaria, cancer

55

Lamiaceae

Plectranthus igniarius (Schweinf.) Agnew

Tonton (Sd)

ET059

H

L

Grinding, rubbing, squeezing

H

Evil eye, sun problem, wound, weight loss

56

Lauraceae

Persea americana Mill.

Avocado (Amh)

BN085

T

Fr

Eating

H

Diabetes, dandruff

57

Lamiaceae

Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.

Madisisa (Sd)

BN025

S

Ba, L, R

Rubbing, grinding, eating, boiling

HL

‘Mitch,’ cancer, toothache

58

Lamiaceae

Ajuga integrifolia Buch.-Ham.

Anamuro (Sd)

BN031

H

L

Grinding, drinking

H

Stomachache

59

Linaceae

Linum usitatissimum L.

Shelala (Sd), Telba (Amh)

BN083

H

St

Grinding, liquid form

H

Weight gain, asthma, liver disease

60

Malvaceae

Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn.

Ye tit firea (Amh)

ET006

T

Fr

Grinding, hold on teeth

HL

Toothache

61

Malvaceae

Sida rhombifolia L.

Chikicho (Sd)

ET027

H

R

Powdering, mix with water

H

Abdominal pain

62

Malvaceae

Sida ovata Forssk.

Qirqicha (Sd)

BN104

S

L, R

Liquid form

H

Toothache

63

Meliaceae

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

Mimi (Sd), Neem (Amh)

ET005

T

L, Ba, R

Grinding, chewing, boiling, liquid form

H

Malaria, toothache, weevils, stomachache

64

Meliaceae

Ekebergia capensis Sparrm.

Oloncho (Sd)

BN098

T

L, Ba, St

Boiling, grinding

HL

Goiter, tuberculosis, anthrax

65

Melianthaceae

Bersama abyssinica Fresen.

Teberako (Sd)

ET048

S

Ba, St, Fr, L

Grinding, chewing, spitting, eating, burning

HL

Cough, headache, stomachache

66

Menispermaceae

Stephania abyssinica (Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich.) Walp.

Kelala (Sd)

BN105

H

L, R, Fr

Grinding, boiling, liquid form,

HL

‘Gadanesa,’ eye disease, amoeba

67

Moraceae

Ficus vasta Forssk.

Wadicho (Sd), Warka (Amh)

ET034

T

Ba

Eating, chewing

HL

Stomachache, bloody urine, toothache

68

Moraceae

Ficus sur Forssk.

Odako (Sd), Ye shola zaf (Amh)

ET035

T

Fr

Eating

H

Stomach ache

69

Moringaceae

Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod.

Haleqo (Sd), Shiferaw (Amh)

ET009

T

L, R, Ba, Fr

Grinding, boiling, hold on teeth, chewing

HL

Amoeba, hypertension, malaria

70

Musaceae

Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman.

Enset (Amh), Wesse (Sd)

BN075

S

L, R, Bu

Boiling, chewing

HL

Placenta delay, weight gain

71

Musaceae

Musa accuminata Colla

Muz (Amh)

BN088

H

L

Liquid form

H

Wound, cancer

72

Myrtaceae

Psidium guajava L.

Zeytuna (Amh)

ET010

T

Fr

Eating

H

Eye disease, gastritis, worms, headache

73

Myrtaceae

Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

Netch bahir zaf (Amh)

ET023

T

L, Fr, Fl, Sh

Rubbing, smelling, squeezing, chewing, grinding, liquid form

H

Headache, mitch, stomachache, cough, common cold

74

Myrtaceae

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.

Tikur bahir zaf (Amh)

ET042

T

L

Rubbing, hold on teeth

H

Toothache

75

Oleaceae

Olea welwitschii (Knobl.) Gilg & G. Schellenb.

Woiera (Amh)

ET019

T

L, R, Sh, St

Squeezing, chewing, smoking, grinding, spitting

HL

Eye disease, headache

76

Oliniaceae

Olinia rochetiana A. Juss

Nole (Sd)

BN097

T

L, R, Ba

Grinding, Boiling, Rubbing

HL

Evil eye, cancer, diarrhea

77

Papaveraceae

Argemone mexicana L.

Kokole (Sd)

ET008

H

Sh, L, R, St

Liquid form, grinding, powdering, chewing

HL

Wound, headache, malaria,

78

Poaceae

Hordeum vulgare L.

Gebis (Amh)

BN086

H

St

Grinding, mix with water

H

Weight gain

79

Poaceae

Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.

Dagusa (Amh)

BN087

H

St

Grinding, mix with food

H

Back pain

80

Poaceae

Triticum dicoccon (Schrank) Schübl.

Aja (Amh)

BN080

H

St, Fr

Boiling, grinding, roasting

H

Weight gain, bone fractures

81

Podocarpaceae

Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N. Page

Dagucho (Sd)

BN056

T

L

Grinding

HL

Malaria, ‘magarto,’ ‘gadanesa’

82

Polygonaceae

Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.

Shoshone (Sd), Meq meqo (Amh)

BN073

H

Ba, R, St

Eating, grinding, mix with boiled water,

H

Stomachache, ‘kintarot’

83

Primulaceae

Maesa lanceolata Frossk.

Gowacho (Sd)

BN061

S

L, Ba

Grinding, boiling

HL

‘Gadanesa’

84

Phytolaceae

Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hér.

Haranjicho (Sd)

ET051

S

L, R, Fr

Grinding, powdering, chewing,

HL

Cancer, ‘gadanesa’, wound

85

Ranunculaceae

Nigella sativa L.

Tiqur Azemud (Amh)

BN078

H

Fr, St

Chewing, grinding, powdering, boiling, smelling

H

Stomachache, gastritis, headache,

86

Rhamnaceae

Rhamnus prinoides L′Hér.

Gesho (Amh)

ET002

S

Fr, L

Grinding, chewing, rubbing

H

‘Quaqucha’,stomach-ache, gastritis, wound

87

Rosaceae

Rubus steudneri Schweinf.

Gore (Sd), Enjory (Amh)

BN074

H

St

Liquid form

H

Child cleaning

88

Rosaceae

Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce ex Steud.) J.F.Gmel.

Koso zaf (Amh)

BN081

T

L, Fl, Fr

Grinding

HL

Diarrhea, weight gain, cancer

89

Rubiaceae

Coffea arabica L.

Buna (Amh)

ET057

T

L

Boiling, drinking

H

Gastritis, ‘fancho,’ worms

90

Rubiaceae

Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn.

Gambella (Sd)

BN099

T

L

Boiling, grinding rubbing

L

Evil eye, ‘gadanesa’

91

Rutaceae

Casimiroa edulis La Llave.

Kazmir (Amh)

ET039

T

Fr

Eating

H

Gastritis, stomachache

92

Rutaceae

Ruta chalepensis L.

Tena adam (Amh)

ET084

H

L, Sh, St

Grinding, liquid form

H

Amoeba, headache, gonorrhea

93

Rutaceae

Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle

Lomi (Amh)

BN094

T

Fr

Eating

H

Gastritis, low blood pressure, hypertension

94

Santalaceae

Osyris quadripartita Salzm. ex Decne.

Tunto (Sd)

ET045

S

L, R

Squeezing, powdering, grinding, liquid form

HL

Stomachache, cough, swelling

95

Sapindaceae

Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia (L.f.) J.G.West L.f.

Ittancha (Sd)

ET011

S

L

Boiling, grinding, squeezing,

HL

Evil eye, diarrhea, ticks

96

Solanaceae

Solanum incanum L.

Borbodicho (Sd) Embuaye (Amh)

ET013

S

Fr, R, St

Grinding, chewing, spitting, rubbing

HL

Cough, stomachache

97

Solanaceae

Solanum americanum Mill.

Tunayae (Sd)

ET003

S

L, Fr

Grinding, boiling, chewing, eating

HL

Malaria, toothache, snakebite

98

Solanaceae

Datura stramonium L.

Banje (Sd)

ET020

H

Fr, L, St

Grinding, rubbing, liquid form, boiling

HL

Toothache, malaria, ‘Dingetegna’

99

Solanaceae

Nicotiana tabacum L.

Arado (Sd), Timbaho (Amh)

BN060

H

L

Boiling, chewing, spitting

HL

Toothache, snakebite, headache, tick

100

Unidentified

Unidentified

Gagasa (Sd)

ET024

Un

L

Grinding, drying, burning

H

Leech, cockroach

101

Verbenaceae

Lantana camara L.

Ye wof kolo (Amh)

ET038

S

Fr

Grinding, rubbing

H

‘Chirt’

102

Verbenaceae

Lippia adoensis Hochst.

Hanasho (Sd), Kosert (Amh)

BN071

S

L

Eating

H

Stomachache

103

Vitaceae

Ampelocissus bombycina (Baker) Planch.

Molama (Sd)

ET049

Cl

R

Grinding

H

‘Azurit’ disease

104

Xanthorrhoeaceae

Aloe adigratana Reynolds.

Argisa (Sd) Eret (Amh)

ET028

S

L, Ba, R, St

Liquid form, rubbing, grinding

HL

Skin disease, gastritis

105

Zingiberaceae

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Zinjibil (Amh)

BN095

S

L

Chewing, spitting

H

Eye disease