Aneityum

n. second growth of taro

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. to fish (in the deep sea)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[anaforofata] n. ladder (archaic)

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

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

v.a. to ascend, to go up

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 62

adj. adjacent

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

[elajnej] n. after sundown, when the insects start to chirp

Speaker: David Nasauman

[et ovan emθa] phr. the strength was really strong

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. fish poison tree (RPV #57)

Scientific name: Barringtonia asiatica, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Oplismenus hirtellus L.

Example: shoot: chewed against cough

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 443

n. yesterday

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 81

prep. up

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3543)

Example: Red, dried fruits are fed to small chicks as food.

Scientific name: Rivina humilis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. firewood

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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. Sabre squirrelfish

Example: Photo by Andy A. Lewis / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Sargocentron spiniferum via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. tree, 6-8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3218)

Example: 1. Take a handful of leaves, squeeze with the hands into 1/2 liter of water, drink when tired; said to open the "blood nerves" and to purify the blood and make the muscles of the male sexual organ strong. 2a. When a person is planting watermelons in the garden, as the vines grow, split them and perforate the vines with a sharpened stick. This practice is said to ensure that the watermelons will be as prolific as the seeds in Vitex. 2b. If you plant vines in your garden like cucumber, beans, melons, pierce the stem with a small sliver of this branch and it will make the vine have more fruit.

Scientific name: Vitex trifolia, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[inhɛlʤa] n. our penis’

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. daylight

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 141

[inman] n. bird, general name

Speaker: Jack Keitadi

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. tree to 5 m, dbh 6 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4965)

Example: This plant is grown as an ornamental plant, and its flowers are used in the house. The stems are also cut for firewood.

Scientific name: Bauhinia, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. rudder for back of canoe

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. coconut grating bench

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the name of a plant with a white flower; a lily

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 88

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. a bed, a foundation, a plantation

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. seed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 182

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[maja gaʔo] phr. yes or no

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[nadimi dama] phr. four men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3725)

Scientific name: Leucaena forsteri, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. lily. Cultivated grows in village. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #3)

Example: 1. To cure the sea snake (nispev) curse that causes missed periods. First the husband must combine 4 young leaves of incispev and 4 young leaves of nafanu and mash and squeeze the juice into a small bamboo (1-1.5 inch diameter) The nafanu is important because it is a plant that connects to the sea. Use wildcane leaves cover the bamboo closed. Go to the sick person and unwrap the snake from her. Start from the top and let the woman drink a small part of the potion then wash her with the mixture, making sure to wash head, elbows, knees, feet, and belly. Then take a leaf of naha and break it over the woman’s belly button to break the snake off. Smash the bamboo vessel to pieces. Leave the woman there until the wash dries on her. This takes one whole day and the ceremony in the evening so she can sleep and she must not eat. This ritual is performed by men. 2. Wrap leaf around fish to cook it on fire, tie with pandanus or any bush, vine. Also used to bake Cyrtosperma merkusii in same way as AAM 1 because it has thick watery leaves. 3. For a person who has been burned by the fire, cut the leaf and drip the sap on the burn to cool it – stops burning feeling. 4. If your joints – elbow, wrist, knee, ankle – feel so cold that they are painful, then heat the leaf on both sides and lay it on painful area. It will take the cold and pain away.

Scientific name: Furcraea gigantea, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3613)

Example: Used to make small poles for house rafters.

Scientific name: Myristica fatua, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. epiphytic liana, growing in primary forest. Bracts orange-red at base. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4029)

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 cf. reineckei, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3684)

Example: People on Anietyum carve a kava bowl from the wood of this species, that is unique to this island. It is oblong in shape and has a handle on each side.

Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of bush

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Pacific yellowtail emperor

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

Scientific name: Lethrinus atkinsoni via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

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

[nareramɣei] n. kind of banana (fat)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. a species of grass

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. the juice of the breadfruit tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. Squaretail mullet

Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Liza vaigiensis via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. herb. Swamp areas. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #8)

Example: 1. Cervical pain and to return it to normal size - Get a handful of Naurakiti and boil it in a pot of water. This can also be done by rubbing the handful of leaves together and squeezing out the juice into the boiling water but the leaves do not go inside. Sit in this for 2 hours or until cold for 1 a day for a week. 2. Medicine: leaf juice put on fresh cut to stop bleeding. Stomachache, headache – use 1 handful of leaves, squeeze these, put in cup, put in some water and drink it 1x day. 3. Women menstruation that will not stop, take 1 handful of leaves into a cup of water and drink 1x day for 3 days. 4. If a person’s joints are sore, take a handful of leaves, crush them and rub on the sore joints. Some people don’t like to use it internally as it can make some people sick, especially small children, but others say it is OK to use.

Scientific name: Ageratum conyzoides, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. shrub. Village pathways. ornamental. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #7)

Example: 1. Heat the leaves then place on the sore muscle. 2. Edible plant, cook young leaves until soft and then can eat, as a vegetable or soup, with any food. 3. Same use as AAM 3 to heat and put on body to heal pain. 4. On a reef when it is time to protect the reef to conserve it and bring more fish, you take this plant and put it in the hole in the reef – cut stem and put it in reef in several parts. People will know it is under protection and respect it.

Scientific name: Polyscias multijuga, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[nawitõŋa] n. machete

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. herb, growing in partially drained marsh. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3593)

Scientific name: Schoenoplectus validus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. fern to 30 cm, cones green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4919)

Example: Use this plant to send a message to someone that another person has died. Take 1 dried leaf, to pass message to another village/tribe or people. Hold it in your hand and walk past a person, then they know that someone has died.

Scientific name: Selaginella distans, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. scrambling vine, growing in coastal strand vegetation. Flowers yellow. 1. Medicine: Smash leaves 1 handful, into cup and add a small amount of water to treat constipation—1 cup for children; 1.5 XX for adults. 2. Stomachache: same treatment, will clear bowel. 3. For leg sores, collect whole plant, put in water – a pool of water for 1 week, then use to dip sore as on leg into it for 10-15 minutes cure the sore. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3437)

Scientific name: Vigna marina, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. low-growing, creeping vine growing in grassy area just inland from coastal strand. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3223)

Example: The leaves of this plant are used to treat stomach ache. Take a handful of leaves and mix with 1/2 liter of water, crush the leaves in the water and drink the entire amount when your stomach hurts. Alternatively, this can also be consumed 1x a week as a tonic drink for the stomach and system.

Scientific name: Vigna marina, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shrub to 2. 5 m tall, 1 cm dbh (collection: Michael J. Balick #4856)

Example: When a person gets burned by a fire, take the leaves, squeeze sap on the burn, and then rub a handful of leaves on the burn; use a larger amount of leaves if the person has a larger burn. Apply it directly after the person is burned. This treatment will stop the burn from blistering. Use once. When a 1 month to 2 year old baby has redness or sores on their tongue and cannot eat properly, and saliva is coming out from their mouth, take the sap of the crushed leaves in a spoon and give it to the baby. Take one teaspoon for a 1-5 month old child and a tablespoon for a 6-24 month old. Give the baby once a day for 2 days. This treatment cleanses out the reddish sores. If a person has a sore that is persistent and stays red and sore for a week or more, take 4 apices of this plant, chew and spit on the sore to help it heal. Use 1x in the morning, and next day in the afternoon. Use 2x only. If a person is walking in the bush and concerned about evil spirits, put a small branch behind the ear to be safe. To treat hot chest pain, dizziness, shortage of breath, and if a person has a hot pain that does not go away after taking panadol (aspirin), take 8 leaves and squeeze into a glass of water until it turns reddish, drink 1x a day for 3 days; this is said to make the pain go away.

Scientific name: Acalypha grandis, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. stinging; the fruit of the kaleteug

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[neŋeʧwaj] n. Island imperial pigeon

Example: Photo by Tony Morris, License: CC BY-NC 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Ducula pistrinaria, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

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

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

[neijaŋ] n. coconut

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. Pacific kauri (RPV #13)

Scientific name: Agathis macrophylla, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4140)

Scientific name: Pittosporum aneityense, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. orange (fruit)

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. leaf

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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 sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. Ambon emperor

Example: Photo by FAO / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Lethrinus amboinensis via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. sap

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 182

n. shrub to small tree, growing in clumps among rocks in open area along river. Fruits green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4064)

Example: 1. This plant is an indication of good soil. 2. Dry wood is used as a firewood.

Scientific name: Ficus adenosperma, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. shrub, 1-1. 25 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3591)

Example: The fruits of this species are edible when ripe (black) and are very sweet. It grows in the white grass area in the open. It is "numba one" fruit. If a person eats a lot of these it turns their tongue reddish-purple.

Scientific name: Vaccinium macgillivrayi, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. midnight; also "nijihgan nepig"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. shrub to 1 m, dby 2 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4999)

Example: It is said that if you chew these leaves or boil them in water and drink the tea from these leaves it will spoil your teeth. There is assumed to be something bad for the teeth in this plant. Local name "Nijom" =tooth and "Kan" = break.

Scientific name: Psychotria milnei, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. Green humphead parrotfish, bumphead parrotfish

Example: Photo by Klaus Stiefel / Flickr, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Bolbometopon muricatum via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. herb to 50 cm, flowers yellow. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4944)

Example: As a tonic medicine, collect a full handful of leaves, boil in one liter of water until fully cooked, then drink 1 cup 3x daily, warm, to treat a person who has worked too much, who is tired, to help their stomach and to help make them strong. For children and adults. Child’s dose is 1/2 cup, 3x daily until the child feels stronger.

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. tree, 10. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3632)

Example: This plant produces a very strong wood that can be used for an ax or knife handle or a handle for any type of tool. It is a good wood for house posts. It must be dried to use, but it can be dried without the use of fire. Made as with others in ancient days used to make a war club, shape with stone, heat in fire to make it strong.

Scientific name: Mimusops elengi, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. wooden dish

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Goldspotted spinefoot

Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Siganus punctatus, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. knots where rope is tying pieces of canoe together

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the New Caledonian banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

[nomrɪn diʧinan] n. fin (of a fish)

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. liana, climbing on fallen tree (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3500)

Example: 1. When the stems of this plant are older, and it is a vine, is used to tie thatch on roof rafters as it bends well. 2. Burned leaves and rubbed on fishing line and spear to increase catch – used with other unspecified leaves, that are forageable. When you are fishing and if you set a basket or mat it means danger and you have to return to shore – the spirit is telling you that it is enough fishing.

Scientific name: Durandea pentagyna, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. corn

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 138

n. seed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 105

v. talk

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.a. to heap up earth to taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 109

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. Marattia smithii

Example: Frond: bathe in infusion, neurodermatitis and infantile eczema

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 442