Aneityum

v. make

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[ala] num. five

Speaker: David Nasauman

v.n. go over, as a hill

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. go after

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[apo akro] phr. I’m going to share this with this

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

v. open

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. shut (something)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[ek amʤeŋina] phr. I am sleeping

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. expand as a leaf

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 148

adj. stringy, watery, as taro; also "ede"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 81

n. pandanus leaf

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 170

n. the white wood of a tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 85

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3547)

Example: This plant is for medicine to treat a spiritual condition related to the coral snake that is the seawater spirit. When a woman is pregnant, some times she gets sick, so use this leaf with 2-3 other unspecified leaves and mash them together, squeeze the juice into a small cup (bamboo), wave around the woman’s body, and then put a few drops onto her head and body, then she drinks the rest. This will help heal her sickness. This treatment can be used for men who have a toothache from eating too much fish--the seawater spirit of the coral snake makes the tooth hurt. It is used in the same way as for a pregnant woman. If the pain from the toothache is really from the seawater spirit, then this will cure it; if not, it will not help.

Scientific name: Sophora tomentosa, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. tree to 15 m, dbh 75 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #5006)

Example: The stems of this tree are used to make temporary houses and for firewood. This is one of the leaves that is used in an unspecified mixture to put in a rough sea to calm th ewaters.

Scientific name: Syzygium richii, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. wild ginger (RPV #180)

Scientific name: Hornstedtia scottiana, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. shrub to 1 m, flowers yellow (collection: Michael J. Balick #4960)

Scientific name: Abutilon indicum, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. kind of sugarcane; also "nalgaij"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. bush land; uncultivated land

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 86

n. bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a brook that is dry in summer

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 131

n. epiphyte on trees, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4093)

Example: 1. Sickness blo namya. When a man accidentally has intercourse with a woman during her menstrual cycle, he can become sick. The leaves are squeezed, along with others, to produce an extraction. The dose and duration varies according to the degree of the symptoms. Further information about the preparation withheld.

Scientific name: Psilotum complanatum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Whitespotted surgeonfish, northern dialect

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

Scientific name: Acanthurus guttatus via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3519)

Example: The stem of this plant is used for fence posts that lead to the sea, and it is resistant to salt water and lasts a long time. The wood is strong and good to make house posts. People use this wood on the coast as salt water does not bother this wood.

Scientific name: Sonneratia caseolaris, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. tree, 15 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4082)

Example: 1. The trunk is used to produce timber.

Scientific name: Burckella obovata, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. vine to 1 m, flowers purple. (kudzu plant). (collection: Michael J. Balick #4920)

Example: Roast the tuber of this vine on an open fire for 20-40 minutes, peel off the skin and eat like cassava or taro. Chew it and drink the "juice" while spitting out the fiber. It grows wild, season of harvesting is in May. Very tasty food for people, considered "numba wan" food for this island.

Scientific name: Pueraria lobata, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. Malay rose apple (RPV #82)

Scientific name: Syzygium malaccense, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the center rib of the coconut leaf

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 90

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3683)

Example: Ornamental. Some have red flowers. Red birds drink the juice. Normally flowers July, August, September.

Scientific name: Metrosideros collina, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. herb, growing along the river at the edge of secondary forest. Stems pale green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3642)

Example: As a local toothbrush, take two pieces of stems, bend them and use to brush teeth with water. This plant acts like sandpaper to clean the teeth. Can also be used to brush pots.

Scientific name: Equisetum debile, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. sandalwood (RPV #110)

Scientific name: Santalum austrocaledonicum, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Homalium aneityense (RPV #105)

Scientific name: Homalium aneityense, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

v. die

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. low tide

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. herb to 1 m, fruits green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4915)

Example: This plant was said to have been brought in by the early missionaries, used to starch their clothes and grown as a crop for export to England. Used as a food crop as well, the root is mashed, dried in the sun and kept until needed. To process, put the roots in a bowl, add water and soak for 1 day and night, pour off the water and keep the starch. Prepare this food like lap-lap that is cooked on a fire in a pan.

Scientific name: Tacca leontopetaloides, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

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

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3710)

Example: The nut of this tree is edible. Crack open the fruit and eat the seed raw. It can also be used to plug holes in a canoe.

Scientific name: Canarium harveyi, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[naŋɛsɛŋa atŋa] n. walking sun symbol

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[nahanemek] n. kind of breadfruit, old name for "naho"

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. a plant with red leaves

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 94

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3217)

Example: 1a. When traveling past a community you can place these leaves in a basket or walk with it in your hand. In this way people in the community know that you are traveling in peace and will cause no harm to people in that village. 1b. Message plant – if you go to visit someone and they are not there, you leave a branch of this on the door or somewhere they can see it and they know that some relatives have come and tried to visit them.

Scientific name: Dendrolobium umbellatum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of plantain

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. small treelet, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3682)

Example: Can be used to stop pain from toothache. Break of the top growth of a branch and remove all leaves. Chew on the green stem at the site where there is a toothache. Keep the juice from chewing in your mouth for 2-5 minutes then spit the juice out. Leave the stem fibers in your mouth at the site of pain for about 20 minutes then remove. Then repeat 2 more times. This makes the tooth thinner so it breaks more easily.

Scientific name: Cyrtandra aneiteensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. epiphytic liana climbing up several canopy trees, growing on slope in primary forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4023)

Example: 1. The roots of this plant are used to make "Nopoy"--a traditional trap used to catch fish and lobster. The outer bark of the roots are removed and sun-dried. The roots are then split into several pieces and they are woven in an open fashion similar to a "noporapora"--a type of market basket fashioned from coconut leaflets.

Scientific name: Freycinetia impavida, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. terrestrial orchid, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4116)

Scientific name: Macodes sanderiana, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of bush

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a species of grass

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. east

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 146

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. dawn of day

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 141

n. shrub, 1. 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3469)

Example: The wood of this species is used to make a spear for fishing. The wood can also be used to make spears for hunting wild pigs.

Scientific name: Tarenna efatensis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. the north-west wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. terrestrial fern, growing in secondary forest along the river. Leaves c. 2. 25 m long. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3656)

Example: Put several leaves of this species together to wrap food, especially the fresh water eel, and to carry plants of taro, kava, holding the leaves over one’s shoulder to carry these crops.

Scientific name: Pronephrium rubrinerve, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. a stem

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

n. lightning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. species of sycamore (117); a sycamore fig (97)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97, 117

[nɛθoʊn] n. foot, leg

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. a hurricane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3652)

Scientific name: Leucosyke australis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a light wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3724)

Scientific name: Acanthus ilicifolius, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the name of a poisonous plant

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

n. tree to 5 m, flowers white. Growing in secondary forest with metroxylon palms and other large trees. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4954)

Example: The pear shaped fruits are eaten when ripe. Peel off the outer skin, eat inner part and discard the seed. The leaves are used to protect food as it is being cooked on an earth oven. To prepare the oven, pile hot stones, then put a layer of leaves on the stones, and then place hot stones on top of the leaves. To make a hot oven, the stones are lined in a pit, a fire lit, more stones placed on firewood and the top layer of stones gets very hot. Then, remove the stones from the top of the wood, and cook food o the bottom layer of stones, add a layer of leaves, place the food on top of this, then cover with a layer of leaves and then pile the rest of the hot stones on top of the leaves.

Speaker: Tony Keith

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3687)

Scientific name: Meryta neo-ebudica, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

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

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4792)

Scientific name: Excoecaria agallocha, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. terrestrial fern, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4047)

Scientific name: Diplazium melanocaulon, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. sparsely branched tree, 2. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3628)

Example: This plant is used to make a grass skirt for women. There are two different methods decribed. In the first, collect the leaves, tear off 1/2 of the leaf and pleat the halves. Then dry these in the sun by hanging them from the midrib. After they are dry, weave them into a skirt. In the second, take one leaf at a time, tear the leaf down the center and throw away the midrib. The soft part is used in making the skirt by holding a piece of twine between your toes and under your armpit. Weave the length of the twine with the leaf. The let the pieces to dry in the sun for 2-3 days. The skirt can be thrown in the sea before drying to make the skirt white. Bark of inhao is usually used as twine. Retted strips of leaves, later sun dried, can be used to make pillows. When dogs or humans have fish poisoning this plant can help. Take 2 leaves and pound them (use 1 leaf for dogs) and mix with 1/4 cup of water. no further instructions given. (OR - Leaves to cure ciguatera, chew 1 leaf and swallow juice and spit out fiber. Or extract juice into a cup to drink 1x. Give juice + water in cup for dog that is sick.) There is also a belief that you can use the whole stem of this plant as a digging spade to plant sugarcane so the sugarcane is soft and sweet.

Scientific name: Dracaena sp., Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a native pudding made with yam and coconut

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

n. banana (gen.)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of banana

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. raisin

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 176

n. tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3540)

Example: The straight trunk of this tree is used to make canoes. The black seed in the fruit is used to make necklaces. The inner bark is peeled and crushed in sea water and rubbed in the hair to make it curly. People do this treatment every day to make long hair curl like a rasta.

Scientific name: Hernandia nymphaeifolia, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3274)

Scientific name: Cyrtandra obovata

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the rib of a leaf

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 105

n. dwarf (South dialect)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

[puarapuanan par lei] phr. he went there and he took it

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[talpos] adj. very big

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

adj. rich; good, as applied to fruits

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 110

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119