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Costus afer Ker–Gawl. [family COSTACEAE]
Date Updated: 30 April 2005
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1
Names
Costus afer Ker–Gawl. [family COSTACEAE]
Common names
English ginger lily; common ginger lily (Morton); ‘bush-cane’. SENEGAL: BALANTA belêgôfódô (K&A) BANYUN gugali (K&A) tigugal (K&A) DIOLA (Fogny) bomay (K&A) bumay (K&A) DIOLA-FLUP yumay karêg (JB; K&A); = yumay of the forest reserve (DF, The Gambia) FULA-PULAAR (Senegal) timbiyâba (K&A) MANDING-MANDINKA belêgôfod́ô (K&A) MANINKA bira kurubafira (CHOP; K&A) THE GAMBIA: DIOLA (Fogny) bumay = easily snapped (DF) GUINEA-BISSAU: FULA-PULAAR (Guinea-Bissau) gògódje-súto (EPdS) PEPEL rum-rum (EPdS) GUINEA: MANDING-MANINKA bira kurubafira (CHOP) SIERRA LEONE: BULOM (Sherbro) sayina-lε (FCD) GOLA sawa (FCD) KISSI siaŋdẽ (FCD) KONO tofa (FCD) LOKO hσvai (auctt.) MANDING-MANDINKA kumbε (NWT) timba (FCD) tumba (FCD) MENDE hσwa (auctt.) SUSU sinkoinye (NWT; JMD) timbanyi (FCD) SUSU-DYALONKE khεmu-na (FCD) TEMNE a-sul the cane (JMD) an-tap (NWT; FCD) VAI tσfa (FCD) IVORY COAST: AKAN-ASANTE sumé (K&B) AKYE leussin (A&AA) DAN sungho (K&B) KRU-BETE doï (K&B) GUERE do (K&B) dodré (K&B) don (K&B) GUERE (Chiehn) zazaboto (K&B) MAHO yaya (K&B) MANDING-MANINKA kogbèhun (A&AA) ‘KRU’ tanton (K&B) ‘MAHO’ koyéyé (K&B) loko yaya (K&B) GHANA: AKAN-ASANTE sommε (Rattray; FRI) FANTE be (FRI) TWI o-sommε (FRI) GBE-VHE asumbeε (FRI) NZEMA εnyanε (FRI) ‘MAHO’ tchone (A.S.Thomas) TOGO: TEM (Tshaudjo) bomire (Gaisser) NIGERIA: EDO úkhúerúohā (JRA; Dennett) EFIK ḿbrítéḿ (auctt.) HAUSA kákiì-zuwaà (Singha) kákiì-zúwaà-Háusá = thou refuses! to come to Hausa (JMD; ZOG) tùmfaáfìyár kádaá = crocodile’s alotropis (JMD; ZOG) IBIBIO ḿbírítém (Lowe; Kaufman) IGBO ókpètè (Singha) ópètè a variant form (Lowe) IGBO (Agolo) ókpètè (JMD) IGBO (Onitsha) ókpètè, ọ́kètè other dialectal forms: ókpòtò, ókpìtì (KW) IGBO (Owerri) ópètè (KW) IGBO (Umuahia) ópòtò (JMD) IJO-IZON (Kolokuma) éré ógbódó = female ogbodo (KW) JUKUN andura (JMD) TIV achikku (JMD) YORUBA atare tẹ̀tẹ̀-ẹ̀gún (JMD; Singha)
Uses
stem Drink: water/sap sap root Medicines: generally healing stem Medicines: arthritis, rheumatism, etc. sap Medicines: eye treatments stem Medicines: naso-pharyngeal affections root Medicines: stomach troubles root Medicines: laxatives, etc. root Medicines: genital stimulants/depressants stem root Medicines: venereal diseases sap root Medicines: fabrifuges root Medicines: leprosy sap Medicines: dropsy, swellings, oedema, gout stem Products: pulp and paper stem Products: household, domestic and personal items Social: religion, superstitions, magic Social: sayings, aphorisms
Description
A tall perennial semi-woody herb with leafy canes to 3 m high bearing terminal inflorescences of white and yellow flowers, of the forest zone in moist places from Senegal to Nigeria and Fernando Po and widespread throughout the forest region of tropical Africa.The plant while occurring fairly commonly in the wild, particularly in the higher rainfall areas, is often planted in gardens. The significance of the Hausa name ‘Thou refusest to come to Hausa’ is not clear for the plant is common in Hausaland.The sap is somewhat rubefacient, and on open wounds is burning, yet it is also anodynal and healing. Sap from a fresh plant or a decoction of the dried plant is used in Ivory Coast — Upper Volta in eye-instillation for various eye-affections and for headache, and in frictions for oedemas and fever (6, 14). The Akye of Ivory Coast mix the leaves with those of Aframomum sceptrum (Oliv. & Hanb.) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae) and use the expressed sap in nasal instillation for headache with vertigo: the mixed leaves are also applied to the face (3). A stem-decoction is widely used for treatment of rheumatism (3, 7, 15) and in Casamance (Senegal) (12, 13) and in Gabon (17) crushed stems rubbed on to wounds immediately after their infliction give good results for cleansing and healing. The stem in decoction or the pounded fruit are commonly used in Nigeria as a cough-medicine (7, 15). In Sierra Leone the stem is mashed (16) or chewed (8) to relieve cough. The pulped-up stems taken in a little water are strongly diuretic. This is used in Ivory Coast-Upper Volta to relieve urethral discharge (14). The Ijo of S Nigeria express the sap which is taken for malaria and to clear urine (18). The deleafed and debarked stem is used in Nigeria against attacks of nausea (4) and young stems are sucked by the Efik to quench thirst (1). Leaf-sap in a root-decoction is drunk in Tanganyika for malaria (9).The outer layer of the stems is used in Lower Dahomey to weave into small table mats, kola baskets, etc., and the plant is sometimes cultivated for this purpose (5, 7). The stem has some value as a paper material, and good quality brown and white papers have been produced (5). Children in S Nigeria use the stems for cleaning school slates (1). The sap can be used to coagulate rubber (1).Nigerian material has been found free of alkaloids (2).The root is used in the Benue region for cough, and a decoction of roots and epiphytic orchids has been used as a remedy for sleeping-sickness (7). In Casamance (Senegal) the roots mashed to a thick paste are applied topically to abscesses and ulcers (11, 13) and they are put into a popular medicine for constipation (13). In Nigeria a root-infusion is taken for stomach-ache and is considered to be a stimulant and an aphrodisiac (4). In Gabon the root is boiled to a pap and taken for syphilis (16), and a decoction is taken in Tanganyika for leprosy and gonorrhoea (9).In Sierra Leone the canes are laid under bodies of the dead, and when twins are born are laid by an anthill. In Ghana the plant has many superstitious uses. It is placed on a cultivated field, or path, or entrance to a house for protection, and planted in sacred groves. It is used in religious ceremonies. Its smell is regarded as inimical to ghosts and evil influences, and it is offered to a spirit occupying a tree (7, 10).
Notes
NOTE: Many names also apply to other C. spp., especially C. lucanusiaman.
References
References:1. Adams, R. F. G., 1947. 2. Adegoke & al., 1968. 3. Adjanohoun & Aké Assi, 1972: 307. 4. Ainslie, 1937: sp. no. 115. 5. Anon., 1924: 424. 6. Bouquet & Debray, 1974: 175. 7. Dalziel, 1937 8. Deighton 4570, K. 9. Haerdi, 1964: 194. 10. Irvine, 1930: 131–2. 11. Kerharo & Adam, 1962. 12. Kerharo & Adam, 1963, a. 13. Kerharo & Adam, 1974: 787–8. 14. Kerharo & Bouquet, 1950: 242. 15. Oliver, 1960: 23, 58. 16. Thomas, N. W. 80, K. 17. Walker, 1953, b: 319. 18. Williamson, K. 8, UCI.
Contributor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Date Updated: 30 April 2005
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1
Names
Costus afer Ker–Gawl. [family COSTACEAE]
Common names
English ginger lily; common ginger lily (Morton); ‘bush-cane’. SENEGAL: BALANTA belêgôfódô (K&A) BANYUN gugali (K&A) tigugal (K&A) DIOLA (Fogny) bomay (K&A) bumay (K&A) DIOLA-FLUP yumay karêg (JB; K&A); = yumay of the forest reserve (DF, The Gambia) FULA-PULAAR (Senegal) timbiyâba (K&A) MANDING-MANDINKA belêgôfod́ô (K&A) MANINKA bira kurubafira (CHOP; K&A) THE GAMBIA: DIOLA (Fogny) bumay = easily snapped (DF) GUINEA-BISSAU: FULA-PULAAR (Guinea-Bissau) gògódje-súto (EPdS) PEPEL rum-rum (EPdS) GUINEA: MANDING-MANINKA bira kurubafira (CHOP) SIERRA LEONE: BULOM (Sherbro) sayina-lε (FCD) GOLA sawa (FCD) KISSI siaŋdẽ (FCD) KONO tofa (FCD) LOKO hσvai (auctt.) MANDING-MANDINKA kumbε (NWT) timba (FCD) tumba (FCD) MENDE hσwa (auctt.) SUSU sinkoinye (NWT; JMD) timbanyi (FCD) SUSU-DYALONKE khεmu-na (FCD) TEMNE a-sul the cane (JMD) an-tap (NWT; FCD) VAI tσfa (FCD) IVORY COAST: AKAN-ASANTE sumé (K&B) AKYE leussin (A&AA) DAN sungho (K&B) KRU-BETE doï (K&B) GUERE do (K&B) dodré (K&B) don (K&B) GUERE (Chiehn) zazaboto (K&B) MAHO yaya (K&B) MANDING-MANINKA kogbèhun (A&AA) ‘KRU’ tanton (K&B) ‘MAHO’ koyéyé (K&B) loko yaya (K&B) GHANA: AKAN-ASANTE sommε (Rattray; FRI) FANTE be (FRI) TWI o-sommε (FRI) GBE-VHE asumbeε (FRI) NZEMA εnyanε (FRI) ‘MAHO’ tchone (A.S.Thomas) TOGO: TEM (Tshaudjo) bomire (Gaisser) NIGERIA: EDO úkhúerúohā (JRA; Dennett) EFIK ḿbrítéḿ (auctt.) HAUSA kákiì-zuwaà (Singha) kákiì-zúwaà-Háusá = thou refuses! to come to Hausa (JMD; ZOG) tùmfaáfìyár kádaá = crocodile’s alotropis (JMD; ZOG) IBIBIO ḿbírítém (Lowe; Kaufman) IGBO ókpètè (Singha) ópètè a variant form (Lowe) IGBO (Agolo) ókpètè (JMD) IGBO (Onitsha) ókpètè, ọ́kètè other dialectal forms: ókpòtò, ókpìtì (KW) IGBO (Owerri) ópètè (KW) IGBO (Umuahia) ópòtò (JMD) IJO-IZON (Kolokuma) éré ógbódó = female ogbodo (KW) JUKUN andura (JMD) TIV achikku (JMD) YORUBA atare tẹ̀tẹ̀-ẹ̀gún (JMD; Singha)
Uses
stem Drink: water/sap sap root Medicines: generally healing stem Medicines: arthritis, rheumatism, etc. sap Medicines: eye treatments stem Medicines: naso-pharyngeal affections root Medicines: stomach troubles root Medicines: laxatives, etc. root Medicines: genital stimulants/depressants stem root Medicines: venereal diseases sap root Medicines: fabrifuges root Medicines: leprosy sap Medicines: dropsy, swellings, oedema, gout stem Products: pulp and paper stem Products: household, domestic and personal items Social: religion, superstitions, magic Social: sayings, aphorisms
Description
A tall perennial semi-woody herb with leafy canes to 3 m high bearing terminal inflorescences of white and yellow flowers, of the forest zone in moist places from Senegal to Nigeria and Fernando Po and widespread throughout the forest region of tropical Africa.The plant while occurring fairly commonly in the wild, particularly in the higher rainfall areas, is often planted in gardens. The significance of the Hausa name ‘Thou refusest to come to Hausa’ is not clear for the plant is common in Hausaland.The sap is somewhat rubefacient, and on open wounds is burning, yet it is also anodynal and healing. Sap from a fresh plant or a decoction of the dried plant is used in Ivory Coast — Upper Volta in eye-instillation for various eye-affections and for headache, and in frictions for oedemas and fever (6, 14). The Akye of Ivory Coast mix the leaves with those of Aframomum sceptrum (Oliv. & Hanb.) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae) and use the expressed sap in nasal instillation for headache with vertigo: the mixed leaves are also applied to the face (3). A stem-decoction is widely used for treatment of rheumatism (3, 7, 15) and in Casamance (Senegal) (12, 13) and in Gabon (17) crushed stems rubbed on to wounds immediately after their infliction give good results for cleansing and healing. The stem in decoction or the pounded fruit are commonly used in Nigeria as a cough-medicine (7, 15). In Sierra Leone the stem is mashed (16) or chewed (8) to relieve cough. The pulped-up stems taken in a little water are strongly diuretic. This is used in Ivory Coast-Upper Volta to relieve urethral discharge (14). The Ijo of S Nigeria express the sap which is taken for malaria and to clear urine (18). The deleafed and debarked stem is used in Nigeria against attacks of nausea (4) and young stems are sucked by the Efik to quench thirst (1). Leaf-sap in a root-decoction is drunk in Tanganyika for malaria (9).The outer layer of the stems is used in Lower Dahomey to weave into small table mats, kola baskets, etc., and the plant is sometimes cultivated for this purpose (5, 7). The stem has some value as a paper material, and good quality brown and white papers have been produced (5). Children in S Nigeria use the stems for cleaning school slates (1). The sap can be used to coagulate rubber (1).Nigerian material has been found free of alkaloids (2).The root is used in the Benue region for cough, and a decoction of roots and epiphytic orchids has been used as a remedy for sleeping-sickness (7). In Casamance (Senegal) the roots mashed to a thick paste are applied topically to abscesses and ulcers (11, 13) and they are put into a popular medicine for constipation (13). In Nigeria a root-infusion is taken for stomach-ache and is considered to be a stimulant and an aphrodisiac (4). In Gabon the root is boiled to a pap and taken for syphilis (16), and a decoction is taken in Tanganyika for leprosy and gonorrhoea (9).In Sierra Leone the canes are laid under bodies of the dead, and when twins are born are laid by an anthill. In Ghana the plant has many superstitious uses. It is placed on a cultivated field, or path, or entrance to a house for protection, and planted in sacred groves. It is used in religious ceremonies. Its smell is regarded as inimical to ghosts and evil influences, and it is offered to a spirit occupying a tree (7, 10).
Notes
NOTE: Many names also apply to other C. spp., especially C. lucanusiaman.
References
References:1. Adams, R. F. G., 1947. 2. Adegoke & al., 1968. 3. Adjanohoun & Aké Assi, 1972: 307. 4. Ainslie, 1937: sp. no. 115. 5. Anon., 1924: 424. 6. Bouquet & Debray, 1974: 175. 7. Dalziel, 1937 8. Deighton 4570, K. 9. Haerdi, 1964: 194. 10. Irvine, 1930: 131–2. 11. Kerharo & Adam, 1962. 12. Kerharo & Adam, 1963, a. 13. Kerharo & Adam, 1974: 787–8. 14. Kerharo & Bouquet, 1950: 242. 15. Oliver, 1960: 23, 58. 16. Thomas, N. W. 80, K. 17. Walker, 1953, b: 319. 18. Williamson, K. 8, UCI.
Contributor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
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