Category: PLANTS

Getting the twi names or botanonical names of some plants used in Ghana is sometimes not easy. To help traditional herbalists, medical herbalists and the general public we decided to compile some of the Akan names. We shall provide the pictures and traditional uses later. Please feel free to comment if you know other local…

BITTER GUARD Bitter guard is botanically known as Momordica charantia L. of the family Cucurbitaceae. Other Synonyms includes Momordica thollonii Cogn. Common names are Balsam pear, African cucumber, Cundeamor, Bitter apple, Bitter melon, Carilla plant, Wild cucumber, Bitter cucumber (English); Poire de balsame, Concombre Africain, Margose, liane merveilles (French). Vernacular names Bitter guard is known…

  Bridelia Bridelia is botanically known as Bridelia ferruginea Benth. of the family Euphorbiaceae. It has some synonyms as Bridelia cathartica, Bridelia grandis, Bridelia micrantha etc. the common name is bridelia. COUNTRY LANGUAGE/TRIBE VERNACULAR NAMES Ghana Twi Opam fufuo, Baree, Badee Ga Adamgbe Opam fufuo Hausa Kisni/Kizni Cote dIvoire Manding Maninka Saba / Sagba Senufo…

BITTER LEAF Bitter leaf is botanically known as Vernonia amygdalina Del. of the family Asteraceae. Its synonym is Vernonia senegalensis A Chev. The common name is bitter leaf.  Vernacular names COUNTRY LANGUAGE/TRIBE VERNACULAR NAME Ghana Adangme Agba, Tatsho, Akpa, Agoaflu Akan Bowin Twi Awonwone Fanti Bowene Nzema Ayeanwonle Ewe Gbo, Gboti,Gbotsi Dagbanli Bieningira Hausa Shiwaka…

Plants in video are  Dandelion, Euphorbia, Momordica, Calotropis, Pawpaw and Moringa

Pawpaw is botanically known as Carica papaya L. of the family Caricaceae. It has synonyms such as Carica hermaphrodita Blanco and Carica mamaya Vellon.  Common names include Pawpaw; melon tree, mummy apple, Papaya (English),Papayer (French). In Ghana it is known in Akan as Brofre, borofere, boroferedua, buruku-mani, Ga-Dangbe as Akpakpa,  and Ewe as adiba. PLANT…

LIPPIA MULTIFLORA – Sareso nunum The botanical name is Lippia multiflora Mold of the family Verbenaceae. Synonyms includes Lippia adoensis Hochst.; Lippia grandifolia Hochst. ex Walp. Common names of lippia are Bush tea; Gambian tea bush, Healer herb and etc. The twi vernacular name in Ghana is Sareso nunum . Lippia stout woody, aromatic perennial shrub;…