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ABSTRACT The 233 page book title “A concise dictionary of the Bini Language of Southern Nigeria” by Hans Melzian published in 1937 have recently been a subject of botanical review producing a checklist of 309 Bini plant names. This study is a follow up to that study and provides the aspects on etymology of Bini plant names and ethnobotany of plant use among the Binis. All plant names sourced from the dictionary were evaluated for etymology and ethnobotany using structured questionaires and oral interviews on local use and meaning of plants name from selected individuals knowledgeable in Bini language, culture and traditions including herbalism. Ethnobotanical use classification was based on criteria for commodity groupings according to PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa). To determine degree of congruency of plant used by the Bini and usage Africa-wide, a comparision of plant use as indicated by Melzian to those in PROTA was made. Plants Results showed that 132 plants (42%) were suitable for ethnnobotanical evaluation while for etymological studies 81 plants (43%) were used. Plants in the ethnobotanical category were distributed as follows: timber 28 (21%), auxiliary 27 (20%), medicinal 23 (17%), vegetables 8 (6%), fruits 7 (5%), carbohydrates 4 (3%), fibres 3 (2%), spices and condiments 2 (2%), ornamentals 2 (2%), cereals and pulses and stimulants 1 (1%) each. Congruency in plant use between Bini and PROTA was 46 %. For etymology, in order of increasing importance the following seven derivative themes and their distribution ratio were evident: Morphology 41 (47%), Utility 17 (20%), Ecology 9 (10%), Mystical 8 (9%), Origin 7 (8%), Color/Chemistry 3 (4%), Culinary2 (2%). The study completes the botanical analysis of Melzian Bini Dictionary and with the checklist provides a comprehesive overview of composition and structure of plant folk taxonomy and status of their uses in the Benin Kingdom in the 1930s.
