Aneityum

v. bite, sing

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.a. reach summit; also "eliaujai"

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

white

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. go out

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[aj] v. fly

[ak] pro. him

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. to cross over or above, as over a fence, or tree in a path, or on stones through a river

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 58

v. to fish (with a net)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. to fish (with a net)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[ditij nadimi] phr. one man (there is)

Speaker: David Nasauman

v. to grow

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. swim

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[et amai inɣaɣen] phr. he chews kava (traditional)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[et emθan] phr. he is strong

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. tree to 8 m, dbh 5 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4896)

Example: The young stems of this tree are used to make spears, either by sharpening the end or attaching several wires to the tip.

Scientific name: Alangium vitiense, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. sedge to 1 m, flowers brown (collection: Michael J. Balick #4883)

Example: Children pull up the new young shoots and eat them. You eat the white soft part at the base of the part that comes off when you pull it. See photo.

Scientific name: Gahnia aspera, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. calabash

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 132

[inʤa anʤia] n. chicken blood (lit. blood chicken)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. large tree, 20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3529)

Example: 1. The inner bark of this plant is used as a general rope; peel it and weave it into rope, and use it to tie beams in the house. 2. The wood is good to start fires by rubbing two pieces together.

Scientific name: Trichospermum inmac, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Peacock hind

Example: Photo by Andrew J. Green / Reef Life Survey, License: CC BY-A 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Cephalopholis argus, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. breadfruit crop in October

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 87

[inmoiʤev ʤupʤupura] n. the evening star, early star

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. vine to 40 cm, flowers blue (collection: Michael J. Balick #4949)

Example: To heal cuts, select a piece of the larger part of the stem (woody) cut a 6 inch piece and blow on one end; the sap comes o ut on the other end and this can be used to cover the wound. As a pig feed, people collect the stems and leaves and feed these to the pigs.

Scientific name: Ipomoea, Speaker: Tony Keith

[inpah] n. leaves worn around head

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. parasite on branches of Geissois denhamii tree, growing in dense rainforest. Flowers orange-red. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4028)

Example: 1. This plant is known to kill other trees and is regarded as a parasite. 2. The plant is related to kastom use regarding the separation of two lovers--more information witheld.

Scientific name: Amyema aneityensis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a flower

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. well branched tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3202)

Example: 1. Young shoots are peeled and made into grass skirts. Scrape the stem and take the green part off, tie strips together and put under stones in the sea for retting, let sit 5 days in sea, but check these on a daily basis. When the fiber becomes soft, that is the time to take it from under the stones, clean off the excess materials, and hang it in the sun to dry for 3 days--this will bleach it and give it a whitish color, at which point it can be woven into a skirt. 2. The fiber can be used to make a small rope that is tied with shells and used for custom dances. 3. When the stems of this tree are older, the wood is very hard and it can be used to make the main frame that is arched for a cyclone house. According to Reuben these houses are not made much anymore on Aneityum Island. 4. To cook the intestines of fish that are eaten, take several leaves and put them in a small pile, making a wrapping, then use a local fiber to tie this together and cook on charcoal for as long as needed to prepare the fish parts. 5. In this area, sometimes knowledge of the plants and flowering are used as a calendar to indicate the time for planting of specific crops. Reuben will provide more details on a future trip. 6a. This species is an important "message plant." If a person is not home and you are visiting from the East--e.g. an Eastern part of the Island--that person can leave a 12 inch piece of stick in front of the door of the house so that the inhabitant knows that an eastern visitor (from Anawonjei district) has come by your home. The reason that person has come to visit is to pass an important message to you--good or bad "luck". The bad luck message might be a death, and is not told directly to the person. The good luck message might be a birth, or conflict that has been resolved. These messages are communicated using sticks--each district has a different species of plant. Reuben’s is the hibiscus. 6b. Message plant for Eastern people. If someone dies, use this plant, clip it in front of hem, in front of home, they ask “who” and you can tell them. In Eastern culture you cannot tell them directly. 7. When a person is too drunk with kava, take a branch of this and brush him with it to help make the effects go away. 8. Traditional plates for food.

Scientific name: Hibiscus tiliaceus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. Pacific ironwood, horsetail tree (RPV #26)

Scientific name: Casuarina equisetifolia, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

adj. long, applied to time

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 92

n. grass to 1 m, flowers purplish (collection: Michael J. Balick #4935)

Example: This grass is planted to protect a person’s farm from being affected by evil spirits.

Scientific name: Chrysopogon aciculatus, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[maja ga oʔo] phr. yes or no (traditional)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. tree to 5 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4924)

Example: Tree is a good source of firewood. Children use the "Y" of a branch to make sling shot for hunting birds and flying fox.

Scientific name: Ochrosia elliptica, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[nadimi dowaŋ] phr. six men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4766)

Scientific name: Cf. Tapirira guianensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. the name of a species of seaweed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 94

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3488)

Example: The wood of this species is very straight and people make fishing spears out of it. The wood, being straight, is used as well for roof rafters.

Scientific name: Pavetta opulina, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. half-tide, ebbing

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 155

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of plantain

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4107)

Scientific name: Cyrtandra cf. aneiteensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb to 30 cm, fruits green. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4934)

Example: Take the leaves, squeeze out the juice in a cup of water, drink 3x daily for 3 days to treat dengue fever--use one handful of leaves in a cup of water and drink cool. The fruits are edible. Peel the outer part off and eat like a tomato.

Scientific name: Physalis angulata, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3508)

Example: 1. The stems of this plant are sharpened and used to plant swamp taro or dry land taro. 2. Break small branch top put behind ear if you go to an unknown place and keep behind ear and sleep with it. If the place is safe you will sleep if it is not you will not sleep well – only behind ear when you sleep.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus ciccoides, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. terrestrial fern, growing in secondary forest along the river. Fronds dimorphic. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3644)

Example: This is a sacred plant, it will keep crops, such as foods, in good condition and protect people from famine and loss of crops. It grows wild along the river and people leave it there and also move the plants to the house along with Terminalia fruiticosa and other unspecified plants for use in protecting their crops. For example, when people go to the garden, they take their planting stick and place it near these plants for a while, and being near it will help protect the garden as a person then works with their planting stick to plant the garden.

Scientific name: Oceanopteris gibba, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub. Growing near the beach. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #4)

Example: 1. Dried branches from this plant can be used to roast vegetable crops that women eat if they have problems becoming pregnant. 2. Firewood, burns well. 3. Some people will eat the green fruit for protection against black magic. Eat 5 fruits for this. Eat it only once – will last for a year.

Scientific name: Scaevola taccada, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[nawʊnalak] n. calf muscle

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. Slender silver-biddy

Example: Photo by John E. Randall, License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Scientific name: Gerres oblongus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. tree to 5 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4889)

Example: The leaves are used to cover meat when baking it in a stone oven (inmawum). This will soften the meat and keep it moist. Used when other species of this genus are not available, for example if you are in the bush.

Scientific name: Polyscias cissodendron, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4764)

Scientific name: Tarenna, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. shrub to 3 m tall, dbh 4 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4995)

Example: The flowers are cut and used in the house and the plant is grown as an ornamental around the house.

Scientific name: Euphorbia pulcherrima, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. vine to 3 m, sori brown. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4930)

Example: Take a handful of the vine, twist it into rope with many stems of the vine, and use it to tie bundles of sugar cane. It can also be used to tie wild canes (Miscanthus) to the roof of the house. Take a handful of the vine, twist it into rope with many stems of the vine, and use it to tie bundles of sugar cane. It can also be used to tie wild canes (Miscanthus) to the roof of the house.

Scientific name: Lygodium reticulatum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3538)

Example: The straight young stems of this plant are used to make bows and arrows. The larger stems are used to make house posts. Excellent for coastal areas as the wood is strong. Firewood.

Scientific name: Premna corymbosa, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of cabbage

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. quicksands

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 176

n. a reed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

[naʊintin] n. bowels

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3444)

Scientific name: Ficus scabra, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. low mountain

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 166

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. tree, 15 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3590)

Example: 1. Used as a medicine to help stop bleeding. Take the inner bark, mash it, and dip in water. Then apply the poultice to the bleeding wound to help stop the bleeding. This treatment will also promote healing of the wound. When the poultice dries it becomes hard and sticks to the wound. At that point leave it on the wound until the pain goes away and then it can be peeled off of the wound. 2. Wood good for making canoe.

Scientific name: Hernandia moerenhoutiana, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a stock; a bunch, as of fruit; also "negan" or "nigan"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. giant fern (RPV #223)

Scientific name: Angiopteris evecta, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[nepiŋ upni] phr. Good night. (greeting after sundown, last time to walk on the beach)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. tender shoots

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. trees, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3473)

Example: 1. This species is excellent for firewood as it gives off less smoke than other types of wood. 2. The wood is good for making roof rafters on which to tie thatch. 3. Use this for planting pole, for taro, cane, and kava.

Scientific name: Alstonia vitiensis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[netoʊhas] n. May (lit. bad sugar cane, not ready yet)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. a fern tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

[nijaʊ] n. March (lit. a kind of plant like bamboo but smaller)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. tree, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3685)

Example: Sharpen the end of a straight pole of this tree and use it to plant taro in a swampy area. For family planning. Scratch away the inner bark into your hand and mix with 1/4 cup salty water. Woman the uses (not specified how to use) it after her monthly period to protect her from getting pregnant.

Scientific name: Decaspermum neoebudicum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. hysteranthous geophyte in flowering stage, growing in primary rainforest. Flowers white tinged with pink. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3625)

Scientific name: Dipodium pictum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a plant like a banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 101

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. coconut leaves, plaited for covering ridge of roof

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[nowataŋ] n. sky

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. the Futuna banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. the flying-fox banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4774)

Scientific name: Morinda citrifolia, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4749)

Scientific name: Dysoxylum bijugum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[nuhonwei] n. White-eyed Duck

Example: Photo by cuatrok77/Flickr, License: CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Aytha australis, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. Humpback red snapper, paddletail

Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Lutjanus gibbus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree to 8 m, dbh 60 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4984)

Example: Peel the shell of the fruit and eat the inner part, or make jam from this part. Spit out the seeds. The branches of this tree are used for firewood.

Scientific name: Ceratonia siliqua, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. terrestrial orchid growing in cloud forest along ridge. Flowers white. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3281)

Scientific name: Pristiglottis montana

adj. ripe early in the season

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 109

n. a kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 111

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119