Botanical Name of Plant Species

Common Name

Family Name

Life form

Uses of plant

Microchloa kunthii

Kunth’s small grass

Poaceae

Grass

Protects the soil from erosion; also used as fodder.

Eragrostis superba

Saw-tooth love grass

Poaceae

Grass

Livestock fodder.

Indigofera arrecta

Barkelat (Tugen)

Fabacea

Shrub

Arthritis; fodder for livestock.

Justicia betonica

Paper plume

Acanthaceae

Shrub

It is used as remedy for fevers, stomach pain, diarrhoea, inflammation and swelling. It has external wound healing and ulcer healing properties.

Silene spp

Caryophyllaceae

Herb

Roots are used to prepare concoctions for various rituals.

Leucas martinicensis

Whitewort

Lamiaceae

Herb

Used as mosquito repellent; manages infectious diseases, inflammatory conditions, rashes, diarrhoea, convulsions and epilepsy.

Acacia senegal

Gum Senegal tree,

Chemanga (Tugen)

Fabaceae (Mimosaceae)

Shrub

Its gum is used as a food additive. Seeds used as food by humans. It is nitrogen fixing and has medicinal value as it treats bronchitis, diarrhea, gonorrhea and leprosy.

Oxygonum sinuatum

Wavy-leaf oxygonum

Herb

Used as a vegetable, the leaves are applied on boils, and stems are chewed to treat tonsillitis.

Acalypha fruticosa

Copper leaf,

Lokuru (Tugen)

Euphorbiaceae

Shrub

Eaten as a vegetable. Acts as an important browse plant for sheep/ goats. The stem can be used to make arrow shafts and the leaves are dried to make tea.

Heteropogon contortus

Black spear grass

Grass

Used for thatching houses, making mats, and fodder for livestock.

Kalanchoe densiflora

Crassulaceae

Herb

Treats infections, rheumatism and inflammation. Its extracts have immunosuppressive effects.

Aeva persica

Desert cotton

Amaranthaceae

Herb

Used as a purgative, antidiarrheal, and anthelmintic.

Ocimum gratissimum

Ram Tulsi

Herb

Treats colds, blocked nose, stamachache relief, sore eyes, as a disinfectant and insecticide.

Aristida kenyensis

Needle grass

Poaceae

Grass

Used as cover grass, thatching houses, and livestock fodder.

Aeva pinnata

Herb

Brachiaria brizantha

Bread grass

Poaceae

Grass

Used as pasture for livestock. It is also grown as ornamental hedges and for erosion control.

Cynodon dactylon

Couch grass, bermuda grass, quick grass and twitch grass

Poaceae

Grass

Controls erosion, farm pastures, used for indigestion and treatment of wounds.

Erlangea marginata

Asteracea

Shrub

Skin, Stomach and oral cavity infection.

Enteropogon macrostachyus

Needle grass

Poaceae

Grass

Used as livestock fodder.

Eragrostis racemosa

Narrow heart love grass,

Poaceae

Grass

Used as a groundcover, forage for livestock; and as bee forage.

Tribulus cistoides

Jamaican feverplant, puncture vine

Zygophyllales

Herb

Used as a ground cover, treats headache, nervous disorders and constipation.

Acacia brevispica

Kornes (Tugen), Wait-a-bit thorn (Eng)

Fabaceae (Mimosaceae)

Shrub

Fibre from young bark makes strong ropes. Used as cattle feed and is browsed to a considerable extent by goats.

Acacia nilotica

Nile thorn,

Chebiywo (Tugen)

Fabaceae (Mimosaceae)

Tree

Twig used as a toothbrush. Used as animal fodder and as forage. Good fencing material and for hedging due to its thorns.