Rwandan Plant Names : Evidence for the Iconicity of Language by Alexandre Kimenyi Rwandan plant names, strongly support the concept of the iconicity of language. Linguistic signs are supposed to be arbitrary. This view which originates from Ferdinand de Saussure is held by the majority of linguists. Looking at the structure of Rwandan plant names, however, shows that there is an intrinsic relationship between linguistic form and meaning. The majority of plant names belong to class 3 and 4. A lot of plant names appear in redupilcated forms. Others have human proper names. Other plant names also describe their form or function. Only a small number has opaque meanings. The majority of the scientific names are from G.Troupin. Others are taken from Coupez et all and Lestrade. Some Kinyarwanda plant names dont have scientific names because they are not available. They were listed, however, to show their iconic phonetic shape or their semantic transparecy. 1. Plant names with reduplicated forms Reduplication in Kinyarwanda consists of repeating the initial syllable of the word stem or the whole stem.Plant names below appear in reduplicated foims. umubagabaga cassia didymobotrya imbtabta plantago palmata/lannea edulis umugobgobo umufuumbafuumba rumex abyssinicus umugweegwe euphorbia grantii umugweegwe sanseviera dawei urukoyokoyo pavetta schumanniana urutiintibo alchornea birtella f. glabrata urubuyabuya allophylus kiwuensis uruziroziro vitex doniana umuzibaziba mitragyne rubrostipulosa umuvutavuta cadaba farinosa s.l. umuvuungovuungo coccinea mildbraedii kigelia africana umuturuturu schefflera goetzenii umutoratora hippocratea apocynoides umutiti faurea saligna umutobtobo englerina schubotziana/solanaceae/solanum sp. umutete solanum aculeastrum umutiritiri pancovia golungensis umushyoshyo polygala ruwenzoriensis umushishi symphonia globulifera umushirashira annona senegalensis umusheshe rhammus staddo

umushayishayi hangurana montana umushabishabi asparagus falcatus umusasa campylospermum vogelii umunyegenyege aeschysomena schimperi/sesbania macrantha sesbania div. spp. umuunzeenze olea europea spp.africana umuroondoroondo secamone africana/gongronema angolense umurukuruku tephrosia vogelii umusas limenia caffra umusaasa umusakasaka pavetta gardeniifolia s.l. umukoyokoyo combretum collinum umukoondokoondo canthium lactensens rubiaceae div.spp. umuhebehebe rhynchostigma racemosum umugobagoba psendarthria hookeri umugege myrica kandtiana umugayigayi lepidotrichilia volkensii umugaragara vernonia auriculifera vernonia subuligera ubugetugetu hedythyrsus thamnoideus umubaribari tabernaemontana johnstonii umubazibazi smithia elliotii umubnobno croton macrostachysus galiniera coffeoides ikibnobno chassalia subochreata/psychotria div.spp. ikibrabra urubuumburi dasylepis racemosa/rapanae melanophloes igicunshu salva sp./ocimum sp. umubugabuga clerodendum laxicymosum umubuungobuungo embelia libeniana umubwabwa clerodendrum laxicymosum umucuucu solanum incanum umudwedwe euphorbia grantii ikeembekembe bethriocline longipes umucaca cynodon dactylon igicumucumu bothriocline ugandensis igiheriheri vernonia lasiopus igishigishigi alsophila manniana igishurshuru triumfetta pilosa ver. nyassana igitamatama bothriocline nyungwensis senecio trichopterygius ikijagajaga pavetta urundensis ikibugbugu senecio trihopterygius ikibnobno chassalia subochreata inteembeteembe ensette ventricosum umuteembeteembe musa entete ikinetenete/igitenetene kalanchoe beniensis/crassulaceae

intiritiri cassipourea gummiflua intyintyi allophyus channostachys imvuvu canthium glabriflorum urutaratara cyperaceae: cyperus dereilema umuvmovmo vernonia div.ssp. umuvuungavuungo goccinea mildbroedi/kigelia africana umuvtavta cadaba farinosa s.l. umuziroziro vitex doniana igitaamataamba bothriocline nyungwensis/senecio trichoptergius umutgeenger dovyalis macrocalyx' umushabishabi asparagus falcatus umuserseri dichaetanthera corymbosa igishikashike guizotia scabra umusoombosoombo allophyllus griseotementonus umuserseri dichaetanthera corymbasa umukukuyu/umukoyokoyo igikuyokuyo rhynchosia sublobato rhynchosia procurrens ikimoomo echinops amplecaulis echinops gigantens umukbokbo ikobokobo urukobekobe umurandaranda vigna oblongifolia var.parviflora umukenjakenja inganigani monanthotaxis orophila/rhynchosia hirta umubarbari hyparrhenia cymbaria ikigembgembe carduus sp. umukrakra nuxia floribunda umukenkakenja umukizikizi urukobekobe umukbokbo igikuubokuubo igikubukubu ikimoomo echinops amplexicaulis/echinops gigantens umukondokondo tarenna graveolens/vangueria apiculata/bangueria volkensii ingobagoba umugobogobo umugjagja musanga leo-errarae ikigjagja pavetta urundensis umugaragara vernonia auriculifera/vernonia subuligera irebrebe/irebrebe ikiyuundoyuundo ikiribribu ensete ventricosum uruhombohombo coleus igihrihri vernonia lasiopus umunygenyge aeschynomena schimperi

umuvtavta cadaba farinosa umushaayishaayi hangurana montana/hangurana madagascariensis umushyimboshyimbo dolichos formosus umusoombosoombo allophyllus griseo-tomentosus umushesh osyris wightiana igisengesenge hermarthria umuskaska pavetta gardeniifolia s.l./tricalysia rwandensis/trimaria grandifolia ssp.tropica ururoondoroondo umuvuungovuungo umubogbogo urunugunugu clerodendrum laxicymosum umuteembeteembe intbaatba ikizovuzovu umuziroziro Vitex doniana umuzbazba Mitragyna rubrostipulacea igitsinatsina umuvmavmo umuvtavta Cadala farinosa umusoombosoombo Allophyllus griseo-tomentosus umushyoshyo Polygala ruwenzoriensis igishurshuru Triumfeta pilosa umurandaranda Vigna oblongifolia/parviflora umureendareenda umuribribu Ensete ventricosum umuroondoroondo Gongronema angolense/Secamone africana umuryabaryaba umuskaska Trimera grandifolia subsp tropica igisengesenge Hemarthia igiseengoseengo Anthriscus sylvestris umushabishabi Asparagus falcatus umushersheri Dichoetanthera corymbosa umushesh Osyris lanceolata igishgishgi Cythea manniana ikinyuundonyuundo Kalanchoe marmorata igishikashike Guizotia scabra umushishi Symphonia globulifera ikinygenyge Sesbania macrantha/diimeri/sesban var nubica/ umukrakra Nuxia floribunda umukondokondo Canthium lactensens/Vangueria apiculata igikuubokuubo igikuyukuyu Rhynchosia procurrens subsp latisepala umukuyukuyu imanamana Herichrysum cymosum umubarbari Tabernaemontana johnstonii ikibarbari Anthocleista schweinfurthii intbatba Plantago palmata/Lannea edulis

umubzibzi Smithia elliottii umubgobgo Cardiospermum halicacabum umubombobombo Cyphostema adenocaule ikibnobno Psychotria palustris/Psychotria

peduncularis/Chassalia subochreata/Psychotria mahoni var.puberula/Ricinus communis/Croton macrostachus

umubnobno Galiniera coffeoides umubgabga Clerodendrum laxicymosum umubuungobuungo Embelia libeniana umucaca Cynodon dactylon igicmucmu Leonitis nepetaefolia/Leonitis mollissima umudweedwe Euphorbia grantii urugag Cyperus dives inganigani Monanthotaxis orophila/Rhynchosia hirta ikigembegembe Sonchus oleraceus/Sonchus asper/Sonchus

luxurieus igrigri Balanites aegypta ingobagoba Pseudarthria hokeri ubugobogobo umugweegwe Agane sisalana igihoondohoondo Dracaena steudneri 2. Plant names with proper Names Proper names are obtained by deleting the preprefix or by adding to the word (noun, verb, adjective) the onomastic prefixes namely nya-, muny-, muka-, nyir-, se-, s(h)-, ka-, rwa-, karuungu gladiolus psittanicus bushya dischoriste radicans rubeerw althea rosea ngiingwijana rubiaceae/borreria stricta/hypodematium aff. sphaerostigma kayogera crotalaria spinosa kaziraruguma ageratum conyzoides rwiiziriing datura stramonium bugaangabukar asteranantha longifolia mukur asclepias sp. gisaayuura acanthaceae/thunbergia alata kazibannyo ronunculus multifidus nyirmuk rumex bequaertii baambub irigeron sumatrensis senyamigaanda Phryganea sp. nyirmuk Rumex bequaertii/Rumex ruwenzoriensis nyirmutbe Yephrosia aequilata nyirmagandu

nyirmasak nyirakayogera Crotalataria incana sbsp purpurascens nyirbut Stendelii/Conyza welwitshii/Hedythyrsus

thamnoideus nyirbutumbwe nyirbutut nyirabuyugi nyiragashuheezi nyirgasogreza Cleome schimperi/Cleome hirta/Cleome monophylla nyiragashuheezi nyirgakryi nyirgasambu Trichodesma zeylanicum nyirbahay nyarisoonga Ocimum canum nyarbamba nyaruboombwe Xymalos monospora nyaantuku Euphorbia hirta rwiiziriing Datura stramonium kamaramahano Epilobium stereophyllum kamenamaseeke Polygala luteo-viridis kaaingshya Oenanthe palustris/Ranunculus bequartii/Ranunculus multifudus musaagimbeh Cleome monophylla mutaranuuka Helychrysum adoratissimum/Ethulia conyzoides ndimugashaanga Lythrum rotundifolium ndiiriyink Elaeodendron buchananii basyitaka Craterostigma mahiinda Astipomoea malvaca 3. Plant names with meanings Some of the plants listed below are either medicinal plants or plants used in certain rituals such as birth, wedding, divination, healing, initiation, burial, coronation, etc. The names describe tneir functions. Other names describe their physical features or their use. umugaanza 'the victorious' umusug 'the pure' umuturrwa 'the unclimbable' umuneesha 'the winner' umuremeera 'the heavy' umuruta 'the stronger' icyuunamyi 'the head bower' umukenya 'the youth destroyer' umuriinzi 'the guardian' umutaranz 'the undefeatable' umutgok 'the one who is immune to bad luck' umugoboka 'the savior'

ingurukizi 'the one which occurs accidently' umuhurura 'the helper' umukund 'the one who inspires love' umwange 'the one who inspires hatred' umugwaampro 'the pacifier' nkuurimwonga 'the one that pulls from danger' umuhanga 'the smart one' umuh 'the luck carrier' umuhire 'the lucky one' umuhindire 'the pacifier' ishy 'luck' ishyoza 'the one which gentle' umurembe 'the sick one' kaziraruguma 'the one which immune to wounds' bugaangabukar 'strong medicine' ikizimyamuriro 'the one which stops fever' kamenamaseke 'the breaker of umwungabere 'the one that fixes breasts' isoonga 'the tip' umusabanyama 'the begger of meat' irek 'leave alone' umugomb 'the must' umucyuro 'the one which brings back the cattle home' rugaara 'the large' rurir 'the weeper' umuzibuura 'the clearer' umubimbafro 'the producer of foam' umukzanyna 'the one which makes calves grow' umuseeno 'the polisher' kazibannyo 'the cover of the anus' kamaramahano 'the terminator of problems' umukbayka 'the folder of intestine parasites' umwicanzka 'the killer of snakes' umuram 'the survivor' umugabudsuumbw 'the man who is not surpassed by anybody' musazugna 'the old man who snores' umugabutreengw 'the man who cannot be passed over' abahnampabuka 'the punishers of Mpanuka' umugoombooro 'the anti-venom' rurir 'the weeper' umwaanzuranya 'the interruptor' imbni 'sight' urubabza 'the one causes pain' umubzi 'the interrogator' umuberwa 'the elegant' uruburamajyo 'the one which lacks clay pots pieces' umucaca 'the crawler' umucaaska 'the breaker of the hoe'

umucungw 'the subject' umudhweer 'the irresistable to death' indarama 'the one which is expecting' urudtebw 'the one who refuses to wait' umuftaangwe 'the catcher of leopards' ifurwe 'curse' umugnashy 'the leader to happiness' urugarura 'the one that brings back' ingese 'rust' gisabo 'milk calebash' gisaayuura 'dbourbeuse' umuhor 'calm/cold' umuhuhe 'the blower' umwifuuzo 'the desired one' impoosha 'the calmer' umwiitsa 'echo' umwiiha 'the one that gives itself' umukmambgo 'the milker of buffaloes' kamenamabuye 'the breaker of stones' umuhungwe 'the escapee' umuhuna 'the somnifer' uruheza 'the one which keeps people away' umuhaanda 'the thorny one' umugosoora 'the filterer' umuhaandanzovu umurengartare mugornamugabo 'man and woman' kayogera umumara 'the useful' ikimara 'the useful' umunygiszi 'the one from the hill' inyamaheri 'la galeuse' akanymapfundo inynzi 'the hater' umunyragsak iraaba urunymavta 'the oily one' irarire 'spend the night' ikiraro 'lodging' umupfunyantoki' the folder of fingers' umurengartare 'the one which goes over the rock' umurrabana 'the raiser of children' umuribata 'the foot dragger' umuroonzi 'the washer' umuryanyoni 'the eater of birds' umuryawbasaza 'the cord of old people' rwiiziriing 'the trouble maker' igishkoro 'la colleuse'

umushoohera 'the problem curer' umusunuun 'la loupe' umusiba 'the eraser' umusubyo 'the purifier' umushyigura 'the mover' umutaanga 'the giver' intreyruungu 'the solitary lion' urutozo 'l'habituante' igitguungru 'false oignon' ubutwiko 'body burn' umunyuwntaama 'sheep's salt' umuvgo 'poetry recitation' ikizranyenzi 'immune to coachroaches' ikiyuundo 'large hammer' umuvmo 'curse' imvrdhit 'the unending rain' umuzgangre 'the thing that women use for make-up' umusek 'the favorable one' umukund 'the love plant' umutgara 'the smart one' igitambitambi 'the crawling one' umutraaz 'the one that doesn't to survive the night' igitegamajaanja 'the one which presents its palms' intooroome 'the fast growing one' umutaanga 'the fast one' umutkampuungwe 'the one who insults mpungwe' umutsinduka 'the winner' umuzirandondwe 'the one which hates bugs' umuzgamfizi 'the one which paints bulls' umuzgangore 'the one which paints maternity crowns' umuyuumbu 'the one which grows thich' ubwuungo 'the one which fixes broken bones' mutumbi 'the fat one' umutramugina 'the one which leaks from the ground' umutrabguma 'the one that leaks old age' umuvgangoma 'the drum that speaks' umuvnanka 'the one that rescues cows' umuzibuura 'the one that cleans cloaged things' umuzbazba 'the one that blocks the exit' umutsina 'the one which cut from the bottom' umutma w'isi 'the earth heart' umutma w'kimas 'the bull's heart' umutambash 'the deer dancing' umuyoora 'the one that picks up' umuvuvu (kuvuvagura) umuyaza 'the one that makes body boil' umuviivi 'the survivor' umuyeenzi (kuyeenza)'

umusang 'the one that joins others' umushranyota 'the one that quenches thirst' ishrankma 'the ugly one' umusgaamb 'the growing one' umushomorankko umushmarankko umuskera-suka 'the one that smiles for the hoe' seka-baazan 'smile so that they bring (food)' urusna-nzki 'the one that repairs bees' insesa-birago 'the one that moves straw mats' umukuundakwaaka the one which burns easily umucasuk the one that breaks the hoe umukragcuku the one which grows fast umumnamabuye the one which breaks stones umurra-ngenda inyoga-nyaanja umuryamira-bkobwa ikiryaa-bashuumba ruvug-amadago ruvug-amahombo umuruta urunymavta the one with oil/fat umusgaamb the one that grows spreading umunywand who should drink it ? Ilex mitis 4. Names from class 3 Words in class 3 use class 4 to mark the plural. The class marker for class 3 is the prefix -mu- and the preprefix or augment is the copy of the prefix vowel ,namely u-. Class 4 is marked by the prefix -mi- and the preprefix i-. umunyiny Acacia abyssinica subsp calophyllia/Acacia sieberana var vermoesenii umunyra Dodonaea viscosa umutrishonga Cluytia abyssinica umutarma Gardenia ternifolia,subsp jovis-tonantis umutnuuk Dichrocephala bicolor umutaanga Lagenaria dv.spp umuteembe Rorippa cryplantha umuteekampengeri Mentha aquatica umutambash Magnistipula butayei umutgara Grassocephalum multicorymbosum umutabana Indigofera roseo-caerulea umutoryi solanum melongena umutsina Sporobolus pyramidalis umutooyi Chrysophyllum gorungosanum/Aningeria adolfi-

friderici

umusur Beilschimiedia rwandensis/Oxynthus speciosus subsp stenocarpus/Garcinia volkensii umusuumbarukeenke Panicum maximum umusiibyarugeendo Apodytes dimidiata umushoshwe Hibiscus ludwiigi/Abutilon angulatum umuraangara Croton macrostachyus/Croton megalocarpus umusagvu umusakvu Fagara sp umusmanzki Hypercum revolutum umunyamabuye Fadogia ancylantha umunyakayuumbu Psychotria

parvistipulata/Macrotylomaaxillare/Tephrosia elata/Diospyros gabonensis

umunykabruk Hymenocaria umunge Croton megalocarpus umugomb Chenopodium ugandae umusine Peddiea rapaneoides/Peddiea

orophila/Vaccinium stanleyi umusduk Hibiscus aethiopicus umusagra Rhos longifer umusaande Urera cameroonensis umusaandi Cassia mimosoides umusang Entada abyssinica umusangu Haronga madagascariensis umusraba Crotalaria vallicola umusrabtemye Ryrigynia kivuensis umusareend Triumfetta cordifolia umusas Nuxia congesta/Nuxia floribunda/Olinia

rochetiana/Campylosperum vegelii var.poggei/Ximenia caffra/Rhamnus prinoides/Polygala ruwenzoriensis/Dodonaea viscosa

umussankwar Hyercum revolutum umus Urera cameroonensis/Urera hypselodendron umusebya Albizia grandibractea/Albizia adianthifolia/Albizia

gummifera umusek Phragmites mauritianus umusekera Pittosporum spathicalyx/Macaranga

kilimandscaria/Ximenia caffra/Platostoma denticulatun umuseena Ficus asperifolia/ umuseene Ficus umusengesi Myrica mildbraedii/Myrica salicifolia/Rapanea

melanophloeios/Balthasarea schlibenii umushbarar Rytiginia bridsonii/Rytiginia Kigeziensis/Rytiginia

kivuensis/Rytiginia beniensis/Canthium ruwenzoriense umushmi Haplocoelum gallaense umushaanga Adhatoda engleriana umushranyota Lannea humilis umushaariita Cyphostemma adenocaulis umushashi Cripophyllum rwandense/Canthium sp./Bridelie

micrantha/Hippocratea goetzei/Salacia erecta umushaayishaanyi Harungana madascariensis umushiba Rhynchosia resinosa/Eriosema nutans umushrabwiko Vaccinum stanleyi umupfurankwavu Tephrosia aequilata umupfunyantpke Eriosema

psoraleoides/E.scioanum/E.montanum umunyerre umunyreri umunyarugabo Helichrysum odoratissimum umunyruger Acacia moberana var kagerensis umunyrugondo Rhamnus staddo umunyruheh Ranunculus stagnalis umunyareenda Acalypha manniana umunyarubaanda Cleome monophylla umunyarubobi Trimeria grandifolia subsp tropica umunyanzigirir Commicarpus plumbagineus umunyana Thunbergia mildbraediana umujugurira Boerhavia diffusa/Cammicarpus plumbagenius umukaanja Ochna schweinfurthiana umukaragata Embelia schimperi umukrara Agauria salicifolia umukeenke Hyparrhenia div.sp./Themeda trianda umukrakenja Pennisetum trachyphyllum umukreko Newtonia buchananii umukreenk ozoroa reticulata umukeri Rubus div.sp. umukindo Phoenix reclinata umukiingabagabo Tephrosia elata/Tephrosia pamila umukryi Virectaria major umuk Erytrina abyssinica umukmagor Grewia similis umukoondo Isoglossa laxiflora/Mimulopsis solmsii umukongw Dombeya bagshawei/Hibiscus calyphyllus umukoni Synadenium synadenium grantii umukoonji Acacia senegalensis umukoonjoro Piper capense umukre Dombeya rutindifolia/Dombeya kirkii umukorokoombe Capparis sepiaria/Capparis tomentosa umukbagw Psorospermum febrifugum umukumbugur Clerodendrum johnstonii/Clerodendrum buchholzii umuruundambaazo Markhamia tusifolia/Alangium chinense/Ehletia cymosa/Grewia mildbraedii umukund Cajanus cajan umukungeri Abutilon mauritianum umukraazo Vernonia hochstetteri umukur Pachycarpus schweinfurthii/Raphionacme

madiensis/Xysmalobium heudoletiatum/Staphmostelma peduculantum

umukurura Capparis fascicularis/elaeagnoides umumara Pseudosabisea arborea subsp bequaertii umumna Pappea capensis umumno Maerua angolensis umumeyu Albizia petersiana umumuna Lannea schimperi umumuri Olea europea var africana umunaaba Triumfeta cordifolia umunanira Jaundea/Rhamnus prinoides umunaniranzovu Solanum aculeastrum/Jaundea pinnata/Milletia psilopetala/Albizia amara sbsp. sericophala umunayo Brillantaisia cicatricosa/Mimulopsis

solmisii/Dicliptera colorata umunazi Parinari curatellifolia/ umwahuro Periploca linearifolia/Rhyncostigma racemosum umwaamirangabo Hymenodictyon floribundum umwaamiya Alangium chinense umwany Neoboutonia maqcrocalyx umwaasa Pentadesma reyndersii/Zanthoxylum mildbraedii umwaasha Balthasarea schliebenii umwatashyri Trimeria grandiflora subsp tropica umubanga Schrebera elata/Pericopsis angolensis umubruk Pavetta gardenifolia/Tricalysia

ruandensis/Cantium schimperianum umubzi Monechna subsessile/Dyschoriste

clinopodioides/Ruellia patula umubernya Typha angustifolia umubimbafro Helinus mystacinus/Gouania

longistipicata/Vernonia pogosperma umubiriizi Vernonia amygdalina umubombo Cayratia gracilis umubub Albizia versicolor umubug Salacia erecta umubunda Casuarina equisetifolia umubyazamsekrume Maerua triphylla var johannis umucuundura Erythrococca fisheri/Waltheria indica/Triumfetta

rhomboidea/Triumfetta tomentosa/Maesa/lanceolata/Hibiscus berbedifolius/Sida div.spp.

umucungw Celosia anthelmintica umucyuro Cassia didymobotrya/Oreosyce

africana/Momordica foetida umudhaand Orthosiphon suffrutescens umudhweer Commiphora madagascariensis/ umudbori Trema orientalis umweena Satureja pseudosimensis umweenya Ocimum suave/Ocimum urticifolium

umuftaangwe Mezoneuron angolense/Caesarlpinia decapelata/Pterolobium stellatum/Harrisonia abrusinica

umuf Podocarpus usambarensis umufuumba Rumex abyssinicus umufuumbageshi Rumex usamberensis umufunzo Cyperus papyrus umufura Boehmeria nivea/Laportea ovalifolia umugabudsuumrwa Carduus nyassanus/Carduus leptacanthus umugabudsunikw Oxalis latifolia umuganshya Cussonia holstii/Peucedonum nyassicum umugaango Pergularia daemia umugano Arundinaria alpina umugaanza Ocotea michelsonii umugaanzacyaaro Harrisonia abyssinica/Ziziphus abyssinica

micronata umugarura Ammania baccifera/Acollanthus repens umugas Scutia myrtina umugeendajoro Cassipourea gummiflua, var

ugandensis/Lepidotrichilia volkensii/Maytenus undata umugeng Acacia hockii umugeeti Hagenia abyssinica umugeyo Pterolobium stellatum/Mimosa pigra/Acacia

brevispica umugimbu Bridelia brideliifolia/Bridelia micrantha umugiingo Psychotria mahonii/Psychotria buyoyensis var

rugensis umugomera Fagaropsis angolensis/Cantium vulgare umugnampri Acalypha villicaulis umugote Syzigium parvifolium umug Acacia polyacantha umuguunga Acacia gerrardii umugwampre Ficus glumosa/Trema orientalis umuhagatangimaCissus humertii umuhanda Casearia runsorica/Stephania abyssinica umuhnurankba Phyllanthus nummulariifolius umuhrakuuk Lablab purpureus/Rhynchosia hirta/Vigna

parkeri/Rhynchosiakilimandscharica/Rhy nchosia sublobata/Rhynchosia minima var prostrata/

umuhshya Monanthotaxis orophila/Dalbergia lactea/Leptoderris harmisiana umuhati Dracaena afromontana umuhto Astripomoea grantii umuhatu Pavonia patens/Abutilon asiat5icum umuhatura Abutilon angulatum umuheengeri Lantana trifolia/Geniosporum rotundifolium umuhih Echinochloa colunum umuhok Phytolacca dodecandra umuhorro Premna angolensis

umuhtor Jasminum fluminense/Jasminum dichotomum/Jasminum, schimperi/Xymalos, monospora/Mikaniopsis umuhuba umuhuhe Croton dichogamus umuhuumbo Ficalhoa laurifolia umuhunga Aeschynomene schimperi/Kotschya africana var bequaertii/Kotschya aeschynomenoides umuhuriizi Podocarpus milanjianus umuhurura Achyrantes aspera 5. Plant names from other classes isandi Blepharis integrifolia igikkarbamba ishyongoshyo Thunbergia mildbraediana ubushyrahmwe Capsella bursera-pastoris ishki Blepharis maderaspatensis igishkoonkoro Cynoglossum lanceolatum igishkorampoongo Crassophalum sp./Emilia coccinea ishoombosho Trachomeria macrocarpa irariire Senecio cydoniifolius uburyoheramfizi Dyschoriste perrottetii ikiryooheramuhoro Annona senegalensis/Galiniera coffeoides/Psychotria lauracea/Tricalisia rwandensis/Psychotria miahonii/Psychotria palustris/Psychotria

pedunculoris isagara Pentas decora isakara Oldenlandia herbea igismutbwe Mimulopsis arborescens isaanda Trichodesma zeylanicum isanzu Ochna afzeli/Vepris stolzii/Chrysophyllum

pruniforme/Eugenia capensis sub sp nyassensis/Anisepalum humbertii

isaayuura/igisaayuura Allophylus rubifolius uruseende Solanum nigrum akanyamwiiga Dychnostachys coerulea igishhe Chrysophyllum rwandense/Ardista kivuensis inshiingati Stapfiella urugurica/Stapfiella lucida icyooganyaanja Dissotis senegambiensis/Suffrutex Bothriocline

longipes akanyarubira Peperomia blanda var.Leptostaschya inyaanzi Tephrosia interrupta sbsp mildbraedi ikinyankrwe Clerodendrum formicalum/fuscum/johnstonii ikinyamucuucu Hypercum revolutum ijoojwe Asytasia gangetica/Asytasia schimperi/Justicia

striata/Justicia uncinulata/Justicia flava/Hypoestes forskalei/Phaulopsis imbricata

injugshu Nephrolepis undulata injuuj Evolvulus alsinoides inkabukira Coryza bonariensis igikkarbamba Alos dawei/Alos volkensii igikngaga Cyperius latiforius urukembagfa Stachys aculeolata/Geranium div ssp. urukeenke Dracena laxissima ubukikri Lepidagathis andersionana inkookera Strychnos lucens inkonoondwe Crambe hispanica inkor Vigna ungiculata ubukuubo Vernonia perrottetii/Vernonia schweinfurtithii inkundabrimi Momordica pterocarpa umukuungu Parinari excelsa inkruba Agelatum conyzoides /Haumaniastrum

galeopsifolium imanayeez Helichrysum sp dv. ikimaanja Clotalaria karagwensis imari/ikimari Garinsoga parviflora akamaatiira Adenostemura mauritianum ikimez Hedythyrsus thamnodideus inanka Helichrisum mildbraedii/Eriosema mucans ineembo Maytenus acuminata/Tarenna rwandensis ikineesha Ixora burundiensis/Pavetta bagshawei/Psychotria

chalconeura/Rauvolfia manii/Pleiocarpa pycnantha urwaakaara/inyaakaara Isodon ramosissimus/Plechranthus

fimbriatus/Solenestemon sylvaticum urwaamba/inyaamba Flabellaria paniculata/Lasiantus kilimandscharicus icyaangwe Luffa cylindrica icyanjogo Psilotrichum elliottii icyanya Musanga leoerrerae urwaarikafuundi Rhynchelytrum roseum akaataburiingi Plumbago zeylanica ikibabanzovu Girardinia bullosa urubabra Combretum orophilum urubabza Pyllantus div.sp./Desmodium ikibbo Peucedanum aculeolatum urubeba Vigna racemosa urubeerw/imbeerw Hibiscus cannabinus/Hibiscus diversifolius urubiingo Pennisetum purpureum iborebee Morus alba var indica ikiboombwe Cyphostemma cyphopelatum imbno Diplocyclos palmatus ikiborooza Girardinia condensata urubwija Amaranthus hybridus incabuguf Becium abovatum

igicunshu Salvia sp./Ocinum sp. indsigriza Helichrysum ellipticifolium idegde Cucumis aculeatus ikidbori Ficus vallis-choudae idoma Gutenvergia cordifolia ikidha Euphorbia candelabrum icyeegeera Plectranthus longipes/Selecio angulatus akeendajoro Nesaea schinzii icyeer Conyza hochstetteri igifshi Cyathula polycephala/Cyathula

schimperana/Cyathula uncinulata/Pupalia grandiflora/Pupalia lappacea

igifuraniinda Crassophalum montuosum ifurwe Laportea alatipes inganshya Cossyza subscaposa igaangabukri Hygrophila auriculata ingarikabigaanza Euphorbia inaequilatera akagiingo Kohaytia coccinea/Silene burchelliiJusticia anselliana ngiingwiijana Oldenlandia scopulorum/Spermacoce

spucilla/Spermacoce subvulgata/Spermacoce princeae ubugoombooro Thalictrum rynchocarpum/Peucedanum

runssoricum ingomw Beilschmiedia troupinii/Ocotea

kenyensis/Dasylepsis racemosa/Beilschmiedia rwandensis

igond Sesamum angolense/Sesamum angustifolius/Conyza hochstetteri

ingormure Pausinystalia ituriense/Pauridiantha paucinervis igorogoonzo Polygonum div.sp ingosoora Tagetes patula uruguh Miscanthidium violaceum ikigwarar Berkheya spekeana/Garduus/Echinops akagwarar Blepharis cristata agahagi Brachystephanus africanus agahago Physalis micrantha agahaandanzovu Tribulus terrestris ihangarhiir Ruellia patula ruharw Opila celtigifolia ihenrane Caralluma schweinfurthii igiheehe Bothriocline longipes/Bothriocline nyungwensis uruhombo Vernonia/Vernonia angulifolia/Vernonia

hochstetteri/Vernonia purpurea/Vernonia karagwensis ihnoranzbe Ocimum trichodon imposhya Drymaria cordata/Lemna paucicostata ihuumbu Hysanthes pusilla impumbya Veronica abyssinica umuhunga Aeschynomene schimperi igihungeri Philippia benguellensis/Philippia johnstonii/Protea

madiensis igihwapfu Mimulopsus excellens urunyarunyuundo Vernonia holstii akanyamabaya Dyschoriste trichocalyx ikinyamagaanga Plectranthus sarrulatus igitovu acanthus pubescens icyumy Guitozia scabra/Melanthera scandes/Aspilia

pluriseta/Salivia nilotica Conclusion Kinyarwanda plant names are either icons or metonymies. They indicate the similarity or the association between the linguistic sign and the plant. Many appear in reduplicated forms because of their forms. They suggest their length, height and movement. It is also clear that class 3 and class 4 were natural classes reserved for plants and later on started including nouns referring to other semantic categories. All linguistic signs usually start as icons but lose their semantic transparency later on. The iconicity of plant names is due to the fact that they are seldom used in every day vocabulary thus keeping their original forms. It is linguistic expressions which are used more often which have tendency to develop develop more meanings, change meanings or shrink phonetically. References Coupez, Andr et all. 2006. Inkoranya yikinyarwanda. IRST :

Butare, Rwanda and Muse Roal de lAfrique Central : Tervuren.

Kimenyi, Alexandre. 1980. Une analyse semiolinguistique des noms des plantes mdicinales et rituelles du Rwanda. in Culture, Science et Education. Kigali : Rwanda.

Lestrade, A. 1955. La mdecine indigne au Rwanda. Lexique des termes mdicaux franais-kinyarwanda. Acadmie Royale des Sciences Coloniales. Classes des Sciences Morales et Politiques, Mmoire in-80,N.S.VIII, 1.

Troupin, G, 1978. Flore du Rwanda, Spernatophytes I. Butare : INRS. Troupin.G. 1982. Flore des plantes lingeuses du Rwanda. Butare :

IRNS Troupin, G. 1983. Flore du Rwanda, Spermatophytes II. Butare : INRS. ________________________________________________________________________

1. Plant names with reduplicated forms2. Plant names with proper Names4. Names from class 35. Plant names from other classes

ConclusionReferences