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 flora from nature or of specimens, family Cleomaceae. This family was previously part of Capparaceae, and is now sometimes included in Brassicaceae.
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 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 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 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 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.
