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Table 3 Plants traditionally used for the control of termites among the Langi community in Apac district, northern Uganda

From: Ethnobotanical survey of plants locally used in the control of termite pests among rural communities in northern Uganda

Family and botanical name

Local name (Lango)

Voucher number

Growth form

Plant part (s) used

Mode of preparation and administration

FC

RFC

Reference to similar ethnobotanical use

Bignoniaceae

Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth

Yago

OB01

Tr

Fr

Chopping 4–5 large fruits into small pieces and inserting into termite mounds or shred 4–5 large fruits into small pieces, soak for 1–2 days in 5 L of water and pouring into termite mounds

162

0.43

 

Apiaceae

Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst

Ibuc ibuc/ Ilwi ilwi

OB03

Tr

R

Crushing approximately 5 kg of fresh roots, soak in 5 L of water and pouring into termite mounds after 1–2 days

28

0.07

 

Asteraceae

Vernonia amygdalina Delile

Okelo-okello

OB02

SH

L, R

Crushing either a basinful of roots or fresh leaves, (approximately 3 kg), mixing with 5 L of water and pouring into termite mounds after 1–2 days

70

0.18

Anjarwalla et al. (2016); Isman (2017); Mwine et al. (2011)

Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray

Akec akec

OB04

Tr

L

Crushing leaves, mix with 5 L of water and pouring into termite mounds in 1–2 days

38

0.10

Osipitan and Oseyemi (2012); Anjarwalla et al. (2016); Isman (2017)

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia tirucalli L

Oligo

OB05

Tr

S, Latex extract from Bark (B)

Crushing approximately 5 kg of tender stems, mix with 5 L of water and pour into termite mounds after 1–2 days, alternatively, extracting approximately 200 mls of latex by injuring stem bark, mixing with 2 L of water and applying immediately into termite mounds

28

0.07

Sileshi et al. (2009); Anjarwalla et al. (2016); Mwine et al. (2011)

Euphorbia candelabrum Trémaux ex Kotschy

Epopong

OB09

Tr

S

Crushing approximately 5 kg of succulent stems/parts, mixing with 5 L of water and pouring into termite mounds after 1–2 days

28

0.07

Mwine et al. (2011)

Solanaceae

Capsicum frutescens L

Alyera

OB06

H

Fr

Crushing 4–5 mugful of fresh fruit, soak in 5 L of water for 1–2 days and pouring into termite mounds

17

0.04

Mwine et al. (2011)

Nicotiana tabacum L

Taba

OB10

SH

L

Soaking 2 mug full of dried leaves in 5 L of water for 1–2 days and pouring into termite mounds

2

0.01

Mwine et al. (2011)

Verbenaceae

Vitex doniana Sweet

Owelo

OB07

Tr

S, B

Chopping stem into small pieces of 2–3 m long and inserting them into termite mounds

11

0.03

 

Caricaceae

Carica papaya L

Apapalo

OB08

Tr

Fr

Chopping five to six immature fruits with whitish exudates and inserting into termite mounds

9

0.02

Anjarwalla et al. (2016); Mwine et al. (2011)

Caesalpiniaceae

Senna siamea Lam

Agacia

OB11

Tr

L, B, R

Crushing either a basin full of fresh leaves (about 3 kg of fresh leaves) or approximately 3 kg of fresh root/bark, soaking in 5 L of water for 1–2 days and pouring into termite mounds

1

0.003

 
  1. Plant parts used: L  leaves, S  stem, R  roots, Fr  fruit, B  bark. Growth form: Tr  tree, H  herb, SH  shrub