The spreadsheets (in csv and xlsx formats) have columns for botanical family, genus-species binomials, synonymy (outdated binomials) on the left, folllowed by columns with native terms in several Dogon languages and in Bangime. Dogon languages included are Toro Tegu, Ben Tey, Bankan Tey, Nanga, Jamsay (main dialect), Perge Tegu (Jamsay of Pergé village), Gourou (aberrant variety of Jamsay), Togo Kan, Yorno So and Ibi So (in Toro So dialect complex), Donno So, Tomo Kan (of Segué and of Diangassagou), Tomo Kan, Dogul Dom, Tebul Ure, Yanda Dom, Najamba, Tiranige, Mombo, Ampari, Bunoge, and Penange. JH in column headings indicates that the material is from Dr. Heath's fieldwork. and For images of many of these plants, see the collection "Mali flora images" in Deep Blue Data ( https://doi.org/10.7302/aef4-fk26). For a practical guide to these plants, click on the link below in "related items in Deep Blue Documents".
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Bixaceae. Cochlospermum tinctorium was photographed in an ethnomedicinal garden; it has not been observed in the wild in the zone covered.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Zygophyllaceae, including Balanites ("wild date" tree). Only Balanites and Tribulus terrestris are common in Central Mali.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of the family Zingiberaceae. In Central Mali, the relevant species are Zingiber (ginger) and melegueta pepper (Aframomum). Ginger is cultivated or imported, and melegueta pepper is imported and sold as a spice or medicine.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Verbenaceae. This family has been sharply reduced by the transfer of many genera to Lamiaceae (Vitex, Gmelina, Clerodendrum).
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Turneraceae. Recently the family Turneraceae including Tricliceras was merged into Passifloraceae in one botanical system, but some botanists reject this. Tricliceras is a weed in villages.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Solanaceae. Solanum nigrum and S. americanum belong to a tighly knit group whose taxonomy is unstable. Fruits of S. incanum and green fruits of S. nigrum/americanum are toxic. Datura spp. are narcotic. Capsicum spp. are chili peppers (and bell peppers). Solanum tuberosum is cultivated potato. Cultivated tomato is Solanum lycopersicum (or Lycopersicon esculentum). Cultivated tobacco is modern Nicotiana tabacum and the more traditional Nicotiana rustica.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Rhamnaceae. The local genus is Ziziphus (jujube), of which Z. mauritiana has the most edible fruits, but is being supplanted by the introduced and planted Z. jujuba. In the wild, Z. mucronata is the other common species. Z. abyssinica was collected on the summit of Tabi mountain near Boni, Z. spina-christi occurs in deep floodplains in the Djenné area, and Z. lotus is a Saharan species.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Portulacaceae (purslanes). Portulaca oleracea, P. quadrifida, and P. foliosa are widespread weeds, P. grandiflora is an ornamental in courtyards. Specimens deteriorate quickly. Except when flowering, P. oleracea can be confused with Trianthema portulacastrum (Aizoaceae).
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Plantaginaceae (sometimes called Veronicaceae). This family was recently separated from Scrophulariaceae (sensu lato), and taxonomy of these families remains unstable. Scoparia is an important medicinal plant.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Phyllanthaceae. Phyllanthus spp. and Flueggea occur wild in Central Mali. This family was formerly included in Euphorbiaceae.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Orobanchaceae. The local species is Striga hermonthica, a root parasite of millet and other crop plants. The family (like Plantaginaceae) was recently separated from Scrophulariaceae, but family-level taxonomy remains controversial.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Onagraceae. The local genus is Ludwigia. L. hyssopifolia and L. erecta are the two species known in Central Mali away from the main rivers (where other spp. are also found).
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Nymphaeaceae (true water lilies, compare Menyanthaceae). Nymphaea lotus is the largest species and has distinctive dentate leaf margins. N. maculata and N. micrantha are smaller; N. maculata has roughly circular leaves, while N. micrantha has more oval-shaped leaves and usually a tuft of hairs on top of the leaf next to the stem axis.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Nyctaginaceae. The genus Boerhavia has been revised since our collecting began and it is best to consider all of these images to be "Boerhavia sp.", though mostly B. coccinea.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Myrtaceae. Syzygium is the local native species and is featured here. Syzygium is rare in Central Mali but was found on the summit of Gandamiya mountain near Douentza. It is common farther south. The family also includes guava, clove, and eucalyptus.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Moringaceae. The local species is Moringa oleracea, planted here and there in villages chiefly for the foliage which is made into a sauce.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of the family Molluginaceae. The common species in Central Mali are Mollugo nudicaulis (from which a spontaneous "soap" can be made) and Glinus lotoides. See also Aizoaceae (Trianthema, Zaleya), Gisekiaceae (Gisekia), and Limeaceae (Limeus). These families have been combined in various ways in previous classifications.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of the family Meliaceae. Azadirachta (neem tree) is nonnative but is planted everywhere in Malian villages and cities. Khaya ("caïlcédrat") was formerly the boulevard tree of preference in cities in the colonial period; it is native to West Africa but occurs in the wild mainly farther south.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Malvaceae, genera I to Z. Malvaceae (sensu lato) now includes former Bombacaceae (Adansonia, Ceiba, Bombax), Tiliaceae (Grewia, Corchorus, Triumfetta), and Sterculiaceae (Cola, Sterculia, Waltheria).
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Malvaceae, genus Hibiscus. H. sabdariffa (roselle) is cultivated. H. esculentus (okra) is not widely cultivated in this zone. Of native species, H. micranthus can be confused with H. pseudohirtus.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Malvaceae, genera A to G. Malvaceae (sensu lato) now includes former Bombacaceae (Adansonia, Ceiba, Bombax), Tiliaceae (Grewia, Corchorus, Triumfetta), and Sterculiaceae (Cola, Sterculia, Waltheria).
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Malphighiaceae. The family is represented in rocky areas of Central Mali by Acridocarpus monodii, which is endemic to Mali and has become rare (and threatened).
images of plants, in nature and specimens, of family Lythraceae. Lawsonia is the henna bush, planted in towns. Henna is a dark pigment used in body decorations, especially hands and feet.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Loranthaceae (mistletoe). Englerina has yellow flowers. Tapinanthus spp. have red flowers and are difficult to distinguish from each other. Tapinanthus bangwensis is the common species in Central Mali.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Lauraceae. Cassytha is a native plant. Laurus nobilis (a kind of bay leaf) is an imported dried leaf used as a spice especially in Songhay cuisine.