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 flora from nature or of specimens, family Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae). Most of the native plants of this family are Saharan, if Cleomaceae is treated as a separate family as in this collection.
images of flora from nature or of specimens, family Burseraceae. Commiphora africana produces a gum (bdellium) known as albarkante in Mali and widely burned as incense.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Fabaceae (legumes), subfamily Caesalpinioideae, excluding mimosoids (e.g. acacias). The genus Cassia has been divided into Cassia (sensu stricto), Chamaecrista, and Senna.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Fabaceae (legumes), subfamily Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade, former Acacia spp. (sensu lato). The acacias were split in 2011 into several genera: African acacias were assigned to Faidherbia, Senegalia, and Vachellia. Acacia (sensu stricto) was delimited to Australia (due to strong-arming from the Australian timber industry), even though the type species was Acacia (now Vachellia) nilotica. Acacia ehrenbergiana was renamed Vachellia flava, in other cases the species epithet did not change when the genus changed. Many botanists continue to use Acacia for the entire complex, others recognize Faidherbia but retain Acacia for Senegalia and Vachellia. By strict botanical rules, Acacia should be limited to "Vachellia".
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of plants of the family Hernandiaceae. Genus Gyrocarpus, the only one present in the zone, is sometimes placed in its own family Gyrocarpaceae.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Hydrocharitaceae. Included is genus Najas, which is sometimes elevated to family status (Najadaceae). Najas spp. are difficult for a nonspecialist to distinguish from each other and from Lagarosiphon. Ottelia is easily recognized.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Lami.aceae (synonym Labiatae). Leucas and Leonotis genera overlap and may be merged. Gmelina and Vitex have been transferreed to Lamiaceae from Verbenaceae but are still listed as Verbenaceae in some websites.
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.
images of plants, in nature or specimens, of family Limeaceae. This family has recently been separated from Molluginaceae. Only Limeum pterocarpum is widespread in Central Mali.
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 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 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 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 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 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.