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Creole names of wild plants

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Origin of names is French unless otherwise stated.
Colours often refer to the colour of the timber or trunk.
Bwa refers to a woody plant, timber or woodland/forest.

Translation is mostly word for word to show the connection -  bouton dò is translated as button golden (of course we would actually say golden button!)

Local Name Notes
Akajou from Tupian (an Amerindian language) acajuba - ref. cashew and mahogony family
Akajou gwan bwa as above, (found in) the forest
Agouman derived from ogomo, a Guinean word for this and related plant (Sean Carrington)
Agouman bèf as above, cow
Agouman (gwan bwa) as above, the forest
Akoma
Alatoukay
Anho bwa above (the ground) in a tree/forest
Anho bwa above (the ground) in a tree/forest
Anjlen the meaning of Angelina is "messenger of God" - ref. when in flower ?
Awali from old French Canadian, aralie, the name of a tree from Ontario
Awali from old French Canadian, aralie, the name of a tree from Ontario
Aymanyad
Babadin
Babawa a freshwater fish (souwi or goatfish) - this genus of tree contains fish poisons?
Balata from Tupi and Galibi (Amerindian languages), name for this tree or related trees
Balata chyen as above, chien french for dog - ref. dog signifies worthless, referring to the timber
Balizyé from balisier, the French name for Heliconias
Balizyé from balisier, the French name for Heliconias
Balyé dou  balai, French for broom, soft - ref. branches used as yard broom
Balyé wonzè balai, French for broom, soft - ref. branches used as yard broom, eleven o'clock - when the flowers open
Balyé wonzè balai, French for broom, soft - ref. branches used as yard broom, eleven o'clock - when the flowers open
Banbou bamboo
Banbou fwans bamboo French
Banbou fwans bamboo French
Bandja
Bebel
Béléjenn djab eggplant (of the) devil
Blan èk nwèwhite and black
Bonné kawé bonnet square
Bouton dò button golden - ref. the flower
Boyo djab gut (of the) devil
Bwa agouti tree, agouti is a large rodent
Bwa bandé tree, bander French slang for erection - ref. male sexual stimulant
Bwa bandé tree, bander French slang for erection - ref. male sexual stimulant
Bwa bandé tree, bander French slang for erection - ref. male sexual stimulant
Bwa blan tree white
Bwa blé tree blue
Bwa damand tree almond - ref. leaves turn red like almond tree
Bwa den tree of India
Bwa degun
Bwa di bas blan tree, ?, white
Bwa di bas gwi tree, ?, grey
Bwa (di bas) ti fèy tree, ?, small leaf
Bwa (di bas) ti fèy tree, ?, red
Bwa di fè tree of iron  - ref. hard wood
Bwa di fè tree of iron  - ref. hard wood
Bwa di fè tree of iron  - ref. hard wood
Bwa di fè tree of iron  - ref. hard wood
Bwa di fè tree of iron  - ref. hard wood
Bwa di hou tree of holly - ref. spiny leaves
Bwa di mas tree massive?
Bwa diwi family tree rice - ref. appearance of fruits
Bwa di woz tree pink
Bwa djèt tree, brace for a pole
Bwa dlo tree water
Bwa dlo savann  tree water field
Bwa dowanj tree orange - ref dye in timber
Bwa flanbo blan tree torch white - ref. burnt for light at night
Bwa flanbo nwe tree torch black - ref. burnt for light at night
Bwa flanbo tree torch  - ref. burnt for light at night
Bwa flanbo tree torch  - ref. burnt for light at night
Bwa flo tree empty/float - ref. to very light wood (balsa)
Bwa gamel
Bwa genton tree, a small beetle - ref. to appearance of fruit?
Bwa gwan fèy tree big leaf
Bwa gulo
Bwa gwiv tree tropical mocking bird
Bwa gwiyé tree scorched - eating the fruits turn your teeth black (Sean Carrington)
Bwa heti tree Haiti?
Bwa heti tree Haiti?
Bwa kabwit tree goat - ref. edible leaves
Bwa kaka tree faeces - ref. smell crushed leaves
Bwa kannèl tree cinnamum -  ref. smell of leaves
Bwa kannon tree cannon - ref. hollow straight trunk same shape as a cannon
Bwa kasav tree cassava - ref. similar four-sided stem
Bwa kawé tree square - ref. four-sided stem
Bwa kayentree Cayenne
Bwa kilibwi tree humming bird - ref. flowers very attractive to humming birds
Bwa koko kawèt tree loggerhead turtle's testes (Sean Carrington)  - ref. shape/colour of fruit?
Bwa kòt family tree ribs - ref. ribs on tree trunk
Bwa kòt gwan bwatree ribs - ref. ribs on tree trunk, forest
Bwa kòt wouj tree ribs red - ref. ribs on tree trunk
Bwa kòtlèt tree ribs - ref. shape of trunk
Bwa kwéyòl tree Creole
Bwa lajan tree silver - ref. colour of bark
Bwa lanmowi tree salt fish - ref. shape of leaf
Bwa lans tree spear - ref. spiny
Bwa lat info
Bwa lay tree garlic - ref. smell of crushed leaves
Bwa lay tree garlic - ref. smell of crushed leaves
Bwa lélé tree swizzlestick - ref. twigs used to make swizzlesticks
Bwa let tree milk - ref. white latex
Bwa let tree milk - ref. white latex
Bwa léza tree lizard - ref. bark occasionally sloughs off
Bwa lonm tree, orne is the French name for a tree Fraxinus ornus?
Bwa madanm tree lady
Bwa mal lèstomak genus tree bad stomach - ref. medicinal uses
Bwa mang tree swamp
Bwa mil bwanch ree thousand branches
Bwa mou limou tree wet slippery
Bwa moudong
Bwa myan
Bwa patat tree potato
Bwapen mawon breadfruit tree wild - ref. appearance of ftuit
Bwa pistree fleas - ref. crushed leaves kill fleas on animals
Bwa pouant tree stinking - ref. smell of plant
Bwa poulTree chicken
Bwa pwa tree pea
Bwa sadin tree sardine - ref. shape of leaves
Bwa sandtree sand?
Bwa savann tree field
Bwa senn family
Bwa sòlèy tree sun - ref. flowers
Bwa sousouwi
Bwa tan (si) tree tanning, sour - ref. taste of fruit
Bwa tan wouj tree tanning red
Bwa vinet tree/bush vinette, French for barberry - ref. shrub with similar fruits
Bwa wa tou
Bwa wivyé tree river
Bwa zanmann tree almond - ref. leaves turn red like almond tree
Bwa zo bèf tree bone cow
Bwi bouis, French for box tree
Bwi kayamit bouis, French for box tree
Chadon beni thistle beneficial - medicinal uses
Chakchak (Crotalaria) noise made by shaking seeds in pod
Chapantyé carpenter
Chapantyé gwan bwa carpenter forest
Chapo glo hat water - ref. shape of leaf, water/muddy habitat
Chapo glo hat water - ref. shape of leaf, water/muddy habitat
Chapo ma hat marsh - ref. shape of leaf, marshy habitat
Chatou tè octopus earth -  ref. roots
Chaspawé sarsparilla - ref. smell of roots
Chatannyé family chataignier, French for chestnut trees - ref. spiny fruits of some species
China quina is an Amerindian word for trees with antimalarial bark - ref. medicinal uses
Chouvalyé wonzé horse rider eleven o'clock
Chou jamaik cabbage Jamaican
Chou blan cabbage white
Dalmawi Dalmarie is a place in France? Darmarie is a French plant?
Dalmawi Dalmarie is a place in France? Darmarie is a French plant?
Dasheen (wouj) possibly a corruption of the French "chou de Chine" (China cabbage), red
Dédéfouden 
Djéwi tout cure all - ref. medicinal properties
Djitan thyme
Dité péyi thyme countryside
Diten manyòk thyme cassava
Fèy do blan leaf back white
Fèy douvan leaf in front of - ref. strong garlicky smell of leaf
Fèy dowé leaf golden
Fèy Manmà leaf mammee apple
Fonn san
Fonn san
Fijé di mòn fig tree mountain
Fijé sek fig tree dry  - ref. no latex, unlike Ficus species
Fijé ti fèy fig tree small leaf
Fijé fig tree
Filao
Flanboyan flamboyant - ref. flower colour
Flè makata flower worm (probably of African origin (Sean Carrington)
Fléwi Nwèl flower Christmas
Fonbwèz framboise - raspberry
Fwen
Fwijè fern
Fwonmajé fwonmaj is Creole for cheese - ref. ?
Galba
Gap fwizé gap? curly
Gayak Amerindian name?
Glan
Godmò
Goglèt
Gonbo modi okra cursed
Gonmyé gum tree
Gonmyé modi gum tree, cursed
Gouj gourd
Gwan fèy big leaf
Gwenn anba fèy blan seed under leaf white
Gwenn anba fèy wouj seed under leaf red
Gwenn  djiné seed Guinea - ref. purported origin
Gwenn légliz seed church
Gwenn zyé bouwik (Mucuna) seed eye donkey - ref. appearance of seed
Gwigwi
Gwiyav uava
Gwiyavyé guava tree
Gwo bonm big, baume (French for balsam)
Gwu gwu
Izenna
Jasmen bwa jasmin woods
Jénipa genipapo is an Amerindian name for this tree
Jenjanm dou  ginger sweet
Jiwòf dlo cloves of water - ref. shape of fruit, grows in very wet spots
Jiwòf flè cloves flower
Jon reed
Jonmou pumpkin
Kachiman blan kachiman? white
(Ti) kachiman bwa kachiman? woods
Kachiman  
Kacho
Kafé gwo bouwo coffee big ?
Kafé mal kochon coffee bad pig
Kafé zèpyant
Kajouka
Kaka bétjé faeces white man
Kaka mèl faeces blackbird - ref. fruits
Kaka poul faeces chicken
Kaka wat faeces rat - ref. fruits
Kaka wavèt faeces cockroach - ref. fruits
Kako cocoa
Kakoli
Kalbas dried, hollowed gourd used as a drinking cup, from Spanish calabaza
Kalkan
Kanmanmi from English chamomile? - ref. herbal medicinal uses
Kann wivyé cane river - ref. habitat
Kann bwilé cane burn - ref. caustic sap
Kannèl cannelle, French for cinnamon
Kannik
Kanpèch name alluding to State of Campeche, Mexico where plant is native (Sean Carrington)
Kashibou
Kaouchou caoutchouc, french for rubber
Karapa Spanish/Amerindian name for this species?
Kas In Antiquity, cassia usually meant certain local or widely traded
 Cinnamomum species. Now also refers to some Cassia species
Kas In Antiquity, cassia usually meant certain local or widely traded
 Cinnamomum species. Now also refers to some Cassia species
Kasialata
Katalézòm
Kawata
Kikado
Kòd-a-vyèlon from French for violin strings - ref. heart-shaped seeds that stick onto clothes
Kòkian
Koko coconut
Koko bel mennwit coconut beautiful midnight
Koko shak shoot  shak
Koko chat testes cat
Koko kouli testes Indian
Konmonm kouli cucumber Indian
Konmonm kouli cucumber Indian
Konngolala
Kontwévan against the wind - ref. the ribbed trunk providing strength?
Kopè lebwa 
Koray coral
Kòsòl corossol, French for this species - corruption of Curacaco?
Kòsòl mawon see above, wild
Kòtòn kadwiv cotton quadrille, French for a dance - ref. fluttering of silky seeds in the wind
Kòtòn (wouj) cotton (red)
Koubawi
Koupyé corruption of French pourpier, French for purslane?
Kouson watercress
Kwèp kodenn crest turkey - ref. appearance of inflorescence
Kwèp kodenn crest turkey - ref. appearance of inflorescence
Kwinin pavé quinine paved
Kwòk chyen kwòk dog
Kwòk chyen kwòk dog
La indigo (Indigofera) indigo - ref. a dye made from the plant
Labonn fanm   good woman
Lanmant (fanm)mint (woman)
Lanmant lavyejmint virgin?
Lagli glue tree - ref. sticky latex
Lanng bèf tongue cow
Lanng bèf tongue cow
Lanng bèlmè tongue mother-in-law - ref. sharp, pointed tongue-shaped leaves
Lanng poul tongue chicken
Lansan ncense - ref. scented exudate
Lapit  derived from pita, Spanish for agave' (Sean Carrington)
Labsent l'absinthe
Latanyé latanier is a Panama hat - ref. leaves
Latifi little girl
Lavann lavender - ref. flower colour
Lépini (Zanthoxylum) spine
Lèt makak milk monkey - ref. white latex
Lila lilac - ref. flower colour
Lonyon djab onion devil
Lonyon gli onion glue - ref. sticky bulb
Lowyé laurel
Lowyé fè laurel iron
Lowyé gwan fèy laurel big leaf
Lowyé gwi laurel grey
Lowyé gwo gwenn laurel big seed
Lowyé gwo gwenn laurel big seed
Lowyé jòn laurel yellow
Lowyé kannèl laurel cinnamon
Lowyé mabwé laurel mottled - ref. appearance of timber
Lowyé sann laurel
Lowyé ti fèy laurel small leaf
Lowyé ti fèy laurel small leaf
Lowyé wouj laurel red
Lowyé wouj laurel red
Lowyé zabòka laurel avocado - same genus as avocado
Lyenn chasè vine hunter - ref. cut stems release potable water
Lyenn chasè vine hunter - ref. cut stems release potable water
Lyenn dous vine sweet - ref. leaves popular animal fodder
Lyenn  myan
Lyenn pak vine Easter - ref. flowers at Easter
Lyenn pèsi vine parsley
Lyenn pèsi vine parsley
Lyenn san pyè vine without foot (root) - ref. epiphytic parasite
Lyenn san pyè vine without foot (root) - ref. epiphytic parasite
Lyenn savon ine soap - ref. twigs used to clean teeth
Lyenn tè vine ground
Lyenn wid vine rough - ref. texture of leaves
Mabi mauby
Magéwit marguerite, name for some members of the daisy family
Maho bòd lanmè tree with stringy bark for tying, by the sea
Maho gonbo tree with stringy bark for tying, okra - ref. flower similar to okra flower
Maho kochon tree with stringy bark for tying, pig
Maho mang tree with stringy bark for tying, mangrove
Maho nwè (Varronia) tree with stringy bark for tying, black - ref. colour of bark
Maho piman tree with stringy bark for tying, pepper - ref. peppery tast of bark
Maho pimen gwan bwa tree with stringy bark for tying, pepper, forest - ref. peppery tast of bark
Makwisti
Malanga
Malenbé (Piper)
Malobi in Chimaltenango (An Amerindian language) malobi is a bird
Malobi in Chimaltenango (An Amerindian language) malobi is a bird
Manba
Manng salé mangrove salty
Manng wouj mangrove red
Manyòk chapè cassava place of worship
Mapou Amerindian name
Masav don't know'
Matnitjen
Mawi hont  Marie shy - ref. folding of leaves when touched
Mawi pouwi Marie?, rotten - ref. smell of leaves
Medsinnyé benni doctor beneficial - ref. medicinal uses?
Medsinnyé modi doctor cursed - ref. black magic uses
Minizyé menuisier, French for joiner?
Miskad mawon nutmeg wild - ref. appearance of fruit
Miwiz cherry tree
Mòtèl (Erythrina) immortal - ref. longevity and toughness
Mouben
Mouchas babad starch Barbados
Mouwan (Peperomia) mouron, French for small prostrate plants
Mouwan kako mouron, French for small prostrate plants, cocoa - ref. often grows on cocoa as a epiphyte
Myann fwans myann, French
Noyò noyau, a liqueur made from brandy flavoured with nut kernels - ref. use of plant as a cake flavouring
Nwa nut
Palitivyé jòn trees with aerial roots, yellow - ref yellow latex
Palitivyé wouj trees with aerial roots, red
Palitivyé wouj trees with aerial roots, red
Palmis (Prestoea, Roystonia) palm
Pann zòwèy hanging ear - ref. shape and angle of fruit
Papay
Pat  makakFoot monkey
Patagon (Boerhavia)
Patat potato
Patat bòd lanmè potato by the sea
Patat mawon potato wild
Pawasol denmou umbrella devil
Pawasol djab umbrella devil
Pen dowé bread or hanging ? golden, - ref. colour of flower
Pennépis bread spicey - ref. starchy edible aril around the seed
Pikan kouzen thorn cousin
Piman gwiv pepper, tropical mocking bird
Pis a bed
Pistach mawon peanut wild - ref. similar leaf
Planten plantain
Pok pok sound made when inflated calyx is popped
Ponm acajou apple cashew
Ponm agouti apple agouti, large local rodent
Ponm di lyenn apple vine
Ponm kannél apple cimmamon
Ponm pwézon apple poison
Ponm woz apple pink
Ponm zikak apple, icaquel, Amerindian
Ponmyé apple tree
Pòwyé (Tabebuia) pear tree
Pwa family pea (bean)
Pwa agoul
Pwa angòl pea Angola
Pwa blé pea blue
Pwa boukousou
Pwa bwa wawi pea tree, a local game - ref. game played with the seeds
Pwa chous 
Pwa dou pea sweet
Pwa gwaté (Mucuna) pea itching
Pwa senm
Pwa senm
Pwa zombi pea zombi
Pyé poul leg chicken
Sablyé
Sachpawè sarsaparilla
Sachpawèsarsaparilla
Saman
Savonnèt soap-clean - ref. use of leaves as a soap
Savonnèt gwan fey soap-clean - ref. use of leaves as a soap, big leaf
Semen contwé Latin seed against (worms)
Sidjinn (Anthurium)
Sidjinn
Sip (Cordia) cyprus  - ref. similar tree shape
Sip amé cyprus -  ref. similar tree shape, bitter - ref. taste of bark
Sip blan cyprus  - ref. similar tree shape, white
Sip zowanj cyprus -  ref. similar tree shape, orange
Siton lime
Sitonnèl citronelle - ref. lemony smell
Sitonnèl citronelle - ref. lemony smell
Siwiz cherry
Siwiz cherry
Soumatjé
Soumatjé
Sweetie gwan bwasweet forest
Tabak djab tobacco wild
Tamadoz mawon tomato wild
Tanmawen tamarind
Tanmawen dezenn tamarind of Indian
Tanmawen montan tamarind mountain  - ref. similar leaf
Tayo
Teck teak
Tèt anglés head English
Tèt nèg head negro - ref. spiky fruiting head appearance
Tèt nèg head negro - ref. spiky fruiting head appearance
Tèt nèg  head negro - ref. spiky fruiting head appearance
Tèt nèg (Triumfetta) head negro - ref. spiky fruiting head appearance
Ti banbou (Lasiacis) small bamboo
Ti bonbon small cake
Ti bonm (Croton) little balsam
Ti bonm blan little balsam white
Ti bonm koupayou little balsam,?
Ti bonm lélé ittle balsam swizzle
Ti bonm wouj little balsam red
Ti dayi
Ti kafé little coffee
Ti kafé mawon little coffee, wild
Ti kafé mawon little coffee, wild
Ti kako little cocoa
Ti kannoulittle cannon
Ti koko small coconut
Ti konkonm little cucumber
Ti konkonm little cucumber
Ti makònèt (Spermacoce)
Ti mapou little mapou (Amerindia name)
Ti mawi little Marie
Ti minizyé littl, menuisier French for joiner?
Ti mouwon little, mouron, French for low, prostrate plants
Ti patat little potato - ref. roots
Ti pwa jòn little pea yellow
Ti savonnèt little soap-clean - ref. use of leaves as a soap
Ti siwèt littl acid/tart - ref . taste of plant
Ti siton little lemon - ref. appearance of the leaf
Ti tanmawen little tamarind - ref. similar leaft
Ti tenn
Tjitima turmeric
Tochon cloth - ref. use of dried fruit as a spomge
Toloman
Toloman
Topi tanbou
Twa tas three cups
Twef (kawayib) trèfle French for clover - ref. trilobed leaf, (Caribbean)
Vannévan
Vani vanilla
Venvenn kawayib vervain Carib
Vèvenn latjé wat  (Stachytarpheta) vervain tail rat - ref. inflorescence appearance
Voytivé
Watjèt
Wézen grape
Wézinyé grape tree
Wozo reed
Yanm matwiten djab yellow yam devil
Zabwiko blan avocado white -ref. appearance of leaves?
Zabwiko mawon avocado wild - ref. appearance of leaves
Zabwiko pwanti avocado pointed-  ref. appearance of leaves?, shape of tree, fruit?
Zakasya (Acacia,Vachellia) acacia
Zanmouwèt amourette is a  French plant
Zannanna djab, mawon pineapple devil, wild
Zannanna gwan bwapineapple forest
Zèb a bab herb bearded - ref. spikelets
Zèb a kouwès herb snake
Zèb a kouto (Scleria) herb knife - ref. cutting leaf edge
Zèb a lonng kou herb long neck - ref. long tube of flower
Zèb a myèl
herb honey
Zèb a mouton herb sheep
Zèb a pik herb spiny
Zèb a vè herb,  worms - ref. medicinal use
Zèb a vè herb,  worms - ref. medicinal use
Zèb a zédjwi (Bidens) herb needle - ref. achenes (fruits)
Zèb djiné herb Guinea - ref. purported origin
Zèb gwa (Commelina) herb fat
Zèb kolan herb sticky - ref. prickly spikelets
Zèb malnonmen
Zèb papiyòtherb butterfly - ref. monarch butterflies lay eggs on the plant
Zèb sèk herb dry
Zèb zòtòlan herb ground dove
Zèpina (Amaranthus) spinach
Zèpina spinach
Zikak fwans icaquel, Amerindian name for this genus. French
Zo nwè  bone black
Zo nwè  bone black
Zo bèf bone cow
Zolivyé olive tree - ref. fruits
Zolivyé olive tree - ref. fruits
Zong makak nails monkey - ref. see image 
Zoti  family nettle
Zoti blan nettle, white