 Basil plant – Nchanwu in Yoruba

 Fenugreek – ewedu in yoruba, hulba in Hausa

 Hibiscus plant – Zobo

 Tamarind – tsamia

 Tumeric – ata Ile pupa in Yoruba

 Cayenne – Bawa

 Chilli – Shombo in Yoruba

 Black pepper – iyere in Yoruba, Oziza in igbo

 Thorny pigweed/prickly amaranth – tete eleegun in yoruba

 alternanthera nodiflora – Dagunro

 Butryospermum paradoxum – Shea tree – Ori

 Allium sativum -Garlic – Ayu in yoruba

 Capsicum frutescens – Tabasco pepper – Ata-wewe

 Lactuca capensis – Lettuce – Yanrin

 Bryophyllum pinnatum – Air Plant, Life Plant, Miracle Leaf or Goethe Plant – Abamoda

 Zingiber officinale – Ginger – Jinja, Atale in yoruba

 Dioscorea dumetorum – Sweet Yam- Esuru

 Enantia chloranta – Awopa

 Khaya grandifoliola, K. senegalensis, K. ivorensis – Oganwo

 Sphenocentrum jollyanum – Akerejupon

 Olax subscorpioidea – Ifan, Ifon

 Tetrapleura tetraptera – Aidan, Aridan

 Lecaniodiscus cupanioides – Akika

 Lippia multiflora – Efirin-gogoro, Efirin-oko

 Jatropha curcas – Botuje, Lapalapa

 Jatropha gossypifolia – cotton-leaf physicnut- Botuje pupa

  Jatropha multifida – coral plant, physic nut or Guatemala rhubarb – Ogege

 Cymbopogon citratus – lemon grass- Kooko-oba

 Pterocarpus erinaceus – Apepo, Agbelosun

 Pterocarpus osun – Osun

 Pterocarpus santalinioides – Gbengbe

 Catharanthus roseus -Madagascar rosy periwinkle – Apabida pupa

 Carica papaya – Papaya – Ibepe

 Dioclea scandens – Dasa

 Dioclea reflexa – Agbarin, Epe, Arin

Yoruba Names for plants

 Lawsonia inermis – Henna plant – Laali, Lali

 Ficus exasperata -Ficus Tree – Epin

 Ficus asperifolia – Ipin

 Ficus capensis – Opoto

 Ficus elegans – Asoro

 Ficus mucuso – Odan-afomo

 Ficus thoningii – Odan-abaa

 Ficus vallis-choudae – Ogunro

 Vernonia amygdalina – Ewuro

 Phyllanthus amarus – stonebreaker or seed-under-leaf- Eyin-olobe

 Mucuna sloanei – Werepe

 Mucuna pruriens – Ewe-ina, Yerepe

 Alstonia congensis – Ahun

 Mangifera indica – Mango – Mangoro in yoruba

 Nauclea latifolia – Egbesi

 Sorghum bicolor – Poroporo okababa

 Senna fistula – Aidantoro

 Erythophleum suaveolens – Erun obo, Olu-obo

 Ocimum gratissimum – Clove Basil- Efirin

 Telfaria occidentalis – Fluted gourd – Ugwu

 Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides – Senegal prickly-ash or artar root – Orin ata

 Acalypha wilkesiana – Jiwini, Ewe larapupa

 Sida cordifolia – flannel weed – Iso-obo

 Sida pilosa – Eesinle

 Sida rhombifolia – Iseketu pupa

 Thaumatococcus danielli – Ewe moi-moi

 Azadirachta indica – Neem, Nimtree or Indian Lilac – Dongoyaro

 Aloe vera – Ahon-erin

 Aloe barteri – Eti-erin, Ida-egun, Ida-orisa

 Garcinia kola – bitter kola – Orogbo

 Ageratum conyzoides – Billygoat-weed, Chick weed, Goatweed, Whiteweed – Imi-esu

 Abelmoschus esculentus – Okra- Ila

 Abrus precatorius -jequirity, Crab’s eye, rosary pea, precatory pea or bean, John Crow
Bead, Indian licorice – Oju-ologbo

 Abutilon mauritianum – Furu

 Acacia ataxacantha – Ihun, Ewon adele

 Acacia nilotica – Baani, Booni

 Acanthospermum hispidum – Bristly starbur, Goat’s head, Hispid starburr – Dagunro

 Acanthus montanus – Bear’s Breech or Mountain Thistle – Ahon-ekun, Irunmu arugbo

 Adansonia digitata – baobab – Ose

 Aerva lanata – mountain knotgrass – Efun-ile

 Aframomum melegueta – Grains of Paradise – Atare

  Alafia barteri – Agbari etu

 Allium ascalonicum – The shallot – Alubosa elewe, alubosa onisu

Different plants

 Alchornea cordifolia – Ipa

 Caesalpinia pulcherima – Barbados pride, dwarf poinciana, Barbados flower-fence – Eko-

omode

 Afzelia africana – Afzelia, Lenke, Lengue, or Doussi – Apa-igbo

 Alternanthera sessilis – sessile joyweed or dwarf copperleaf – Reku-reku

 Anacardium occidentale – Cashew – Kasu

 Anthocleista djalonensis, Anthocleista liebrechtsiana – Sapo, Shapo

 Arachis hypogea – peanut, or groundnut – Epa

 Bambusa vulgaris – Golden Bamboo, or Buddha’s Belly Bamboo – Oparun

 Baphia nitida – African sandalwood – Osun, Irosun

 Allanblackia floribunda – tallow tree – Eku, Eso roro

 Byrsocarpus coccineus – Amuje wewe

 Calendula officinalis – pot marigold – Ododo-Maria in yoruba

 Calotropis procera – Sodom apple – Bomubomu

 Canarium schweinfurthii – African elemi or canarium – Paapo, Origbo

 Canavalia ensiformis – jack bean – Sese-nla

 Carapa procera – Carapa – Abo-oganwo

 Cardiospermum halicacabum – balloon plant or love in a puff – Shaworo

 Celastrus indica – Ponju-owiwi

 Ceiba pentandra – Araba

 Cissampelos owariensis – Ewe jokoje

 Chromolaena odorata – Siam weed – Akintola, Awolowo

 Tetracarpidium conophorum – Nigerian walnut – Awusa, Asala

  Vernonia colorata – Ironweed – Eriro-Ijebu

 Xylopia aethiopica – Eeru, Erunje

 Tridax procumbens – Igbalode, Muwagun

 Waltheria indica – Ewe-epo

 Vitex doniana – Oori-nla

 Uvaria chamae – finger root or bush banana – Eruju

 Viscum album – mistletoe- Afomo in yoruba

 Uvaria afzelii – Gbongbose, Anikan wogba-arun

 Urena lobata – Ilasa-agborin, Ilasa-omode

 Uraria picta – Alupayida

 Voacanga africana – Ako-dodo

 Argemone mexicana – Mexican poppy, Mexican prickly poppy, Flowering thistle, cardo or
cardosanto – Egun arugbo, Ekan-ekun

 Artocarpus altilis – Berefurutu

 Boerhaavia diffusa – punarnava – Etiponla, Olowojeja

 Borreria verticillata – Irawo ile

 Carpolobia lutea – Osunsun

 Citrullus colocynthis – colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, egusi, or
vine of Sodom – Egusi-baara

 Citrus aurantium – Bitter orange, Seville orange, sour orange, bigarade orange, or
marmalade orange – Osan

 Aspilia africana – Yunyun

 Nicotiana tabacum – Ewe taba

Source: An Ethnobotanical Survey of Herbal Markets and Medicinal Plants in Lagos State of Nigeria
(PDF) of yoruba names for herbs and plants.

Bibliography:

 Maclean, Una. Magical Medicine: A Nigerian Case Study. London: Penguin Books, 1977.
Some other plants:

1. Transvaal alchornea – yoruba: ijandu, ijandudu, gbaluwo, ijan pupa, sewo sese pepe, ijan,
ijan funfun, pepe

2. Christmas bush – yoruba: isin, ipa, epa, esin, asiyin, esin abata

3. Yellow siris, yellow bean – yoruba: ayinreta, ayinre popo, ayunre, akudinrin, alota

4. Lebbeck tree, siris tree, white siris tree, bastard lebbeck, tall albizia, white siris – Yoruba:
ayinreta; Edo: ekpaghudo; Igbo: nyie avu

5. Flat Crown – yoruba: ayinre, ayinre isingede, ayinre ogo

6. Black currant tree – yoruba: aduigbo, asofeyeje, olowuko, yanya holo

7. Tassel berry – yoruba: aponlojusese, aroro

White mahogany – yoruba: ifa okete

8. Kola nut – yoruba: obi-abata, ogungun

Zulu coshwood, vanquisher – yoruba: atewu-edun, orodo, ofun, fomu, obi-edun

9. Job’s tears, gromwell-read, pearl barley – yoruba: obi, obi ifin, obi pupa, obi abata

10. African mahogany, counterwood – Yoruba : apa, ako apa, apa igbo

11. Pond apple – afe

12. Soursop, prickly custard apple : eko oyibo, eko omode

13. Wild custard apple, custard apple – abo, arere, afon

14. Silk tree albizia, mimosa, mimosa tree, silk tree, silk sirirs, Persian acacia, pik siris tree –
ayinre, ayinreye

15. Pattern wood, alstonia – atikekereheyin, dagunro kekere

16. Scrub ironbark, grey birch – ira odan, ira, iralodan

17. Coastal goldenleaf, coast goldleaf – asaragba, asa gidi, aarasa, ira, fonu fonu

18. Blighia konig sapindaceae, akee apple – isin odo, isin jise, isin oka, isin odan

19. Triangle tops, Phialodiscus unijugatus, P. plurijugaturs, P. zambesiacus – isin ako, ako isin,
odofin ile, akoisin

20. Star apple – osan agbalumo, osan olomo wewe, onidosan, agbalumo olomo

21. Satin leaf, Damson plum – osan edun, osan palambi, osanko
 22. Upas tree, antiaris – oriro, oro, oro efun, abori kefun, awase, oriro omo oluugbo

23. Alligator weed – sawewe

24. Sessile joyweed, sessile floweres globe amaranth – ewaowo, awo crede, moni roderode,
sajeje

Source – CRC World Dictionary of Plants Names – Umberto Quattrocchi

 leaves of Senecio biafrae – worowo in Yoruba

 fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa, African locust beans in English, Igba/Iyere in Yoruba

 leaves of Talinum triangulare (water leaf) or Basella alba, Indian spinach in English,
Amunututu in Yoruba

 West African black pepper/Ashanti pepper (Piper guineense, Uziza in Igbo and Ata iyere in
Yoruba

 Phyllanthus amarus – ehin olobe or eyin olobe in Yoruba

 Celosia argentea – soko (yoruba)

 Launaea taraxacifolia – African lettuce, wild lettuce – efo yanrin.

 Xanthosoa poeppigii – ewe koko

 Citrus aurantiifolia – osanwene

 Anacardium occidentale – kasu

 Vernonia amygdalina Delile – ewuroaja

 Bridelia ferruginea benth – ira

 Physic nut, termite plant, Barbados nut, fig nut – eto-mkpo

 Monodora myristica – abo lakoshe, arigho, eyinaghose

 Lawsonia inermis – henna, cypress shrub, egyptian privet, alkanna – laali in yoruba, uhie
inine in Igbo.

 Hybanthus Enneasprmus – abiwere in yoruba Usolala-ocha in Igbo.

 Asparagus africanus – aluki, kadankobe

 Syzygium aromaticum – Clove – konofuru

 Holarrhena Floribunda – Holarrhenna – Ako-ire, are-ibeji, areno, isai

  Alstonia Boonei – awun

 Shea butter tree – emi, emi-egidi

 Guava – guafa

 Solanum incanum L. – Bitter apple – ikan

 Brimstone tree – oruwo, owuru

 Garlic – Allium sativum – ayu

Plant names from Yoruba

 Morinda lucida – Oruwo

 Enantia chlorantha – Awopa

 Alstonia boonei – Ahun

 Gossypium barbadense – cotton seed – Owu

 Alstonia boonei – Stool wood – Ahun

 Cymbopogon citratus – lemon grass – Ewe tea, Oko oba

 Carica papaya – pawpaw – Ibepe

 persea americana – avocado pear – Pia

 Hymenostegia – ikun

 Emilia coccineus – Scarlet tassel flower – odundun-odo

 Peperomia pellucida – Silver bush – Renren

 Elaeis guineesis – Red oil palm – Ekuro

 Vitex grandifolia – Stool wood – Oori

 Bryophyllum pinnatum – Life plant – Abamoda

 Cajanus cajan – Pigeon Pea – Otiili

 Vernonia amygdalina – Bitter leaf – Ewuro

 Nicotiana tabacum – Virginia tobacco – Ewe taba

 Allium ascalonicum – Onion – alubosa gambari, alubosa keta, elubasa

 Garcinia kola – Bitter kola – Orogbo

  Citrus aurantifolia – Lime – Osan wewe

 Citrus paradise – Grape – Osan nla

 Amaranthus spinosa – spiny amaranth – Tete elegun

 Amaranthus viridis – slender amaranth – tete- abalaye

 Bryophyllum pinnatum – mother of millions – Odundun Abamoda

 Calotropis procera – milkweed – Bomubomu

 Heliotropium indicum – scorpion weed – Ogbe ori akuko, Agogo igun

 Kalanchoe crenata – Eti eleti

 Manihot esculenta – cassava, tapioca, manioc, yucca – Gbaguda, Ege

 Momordica charantia – bitter melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear – Ejinrin were

 Ananas comosus – Pineapple – Ope-oyinbo

 Ocimum basilicum – Basil – Efinrin wewe, ofen, eferi, efinrin aruntantan, efinrin ata,
efinrin marugbosanyan, efinrin aja

 Ricinus communis – Castor oil plant – lava pupa, Laa funfun

 Bambusa vulgaris – bamboo – oparun

 Anacardium occidentale – cashew nut tree – Kausu

 Cucuma doonestica valeton cucuma longe – turmeric – atale, atale pupa

 Verbena – Verbena officinalisVerbena – Ewe Orukan, Yemaya.

 Parsley – Petroselinum crispum – Isako, Oshun

 Sage -Salvia officinalis – Kiriwi, Babaluaye, Obatala.

 Purslane, Pigweed, Little Hogweed – Portulaca oleracea – Gbure.

 Spinach – Spinacia oleracea – Obedo, Ewe tutu, Ede.

 Anise – Pimpinella anisum – Eweise, Ochiosi, Azowano.

Medicine plants with yoruba Names

 Sweet potato – oduku, anamo, edumsi, kukundunkun

 Colocasia esculenta – taro, dasheen – ikoko, kok, isu koko, koko, koko funfun
 Canna indica – edible canna – ido, okun

 Cyper esculentus – chufa, rushnut, earth almond – ofio, ofio omu, imumu ofio omu,
erunsha

 Dioscorea alata – water yam, common yam – ewura duduku, kiamfa, arunfanfan, atti,
egbodo

 Dioscorea bulbifera – potato yam, aerial yam – emina, guite sinde, guite sode, aparia isu,
emina esi,

 Dioscorea cayenensis – yellow yam, negro yam – pansaga, agandan, aginipa, apepe,
igangan

 Dioscorea dumetorum – Bitter yam – itakun isu

 Dioscorea esculenta – lesser yam – isu alubosa

 Musa paradisiaca – plantain – (banana fruit) ogede agbagba

 Zea mays – sweet corn – agbado

 Centella asiatica – asiatic pennywort, wild violet – ewe karo

 Crassocephalum crepidioides – hawksbeard velvetplant – ebolo, efodu, egusi

 Opuntia ficus-indica – prickly-pear, Indian fig – oro agogo

 Cucurbita pepo – summer squash, courgette, zucchini, marrow, pumpkin – elegbe,

elegede, apala

 Lagenaria siceraria – bottle gourd,calabash gourd, white flowered gourd, white pumpkin –
igba

 Luffa aegyptiaca – smooth loofah, discloth gourd, sponge gourd, vegetable sponde – run,
erun kaankan

 Telfairia occidentalis – fluted gourd – egusi, iroko

 Trrichosanthes cucumerina – snake gourd – tomato elejo

 Arachis hypogaea – peanut, grouns nut, pea nut, chinese almond – egpa, epa gidi, ogodsia

 Cajanus cajan – pigeon pea, cajan pea, Conge pea, yellow dhal, cajan pea – otili, otimi

 Canavalia ensiformis – jack bean, horse bean – papanla, popondo, poponla

 Lablab purpureus – hyacinth bean, lubia bean, Indian bean – awuje

 Mucuna prurins – velvet bean, buffalo bean – werekpe, esin, esinfunfun, esise, ewe ina,
here, wepe, werepe, yerepe

 Solanum melongena, eggplant – Igba aja