Futuna-Aniwa Talking Dictionary

Botany in Futuna-Aniwa

Botanical names recorded by Anselon Seru with the New York Botanical Gardens research team including Michael Balick, Greg Plunkett and Sean Thackurdeen in Herald Bay, Futuna, Vanuatu.

faka masi [+]

[ ɸaka masi ]

n. well branched tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4151)

Scientific name: Syzygium nomoa

Speaker: Takaronga Kuautonga

Example: Children like to eat the fruits when they ripen black. Stem for house posts, as the wood is very strong.

Semantic domains:

faka tagi gata [+]

[ ɸaka taŋi ŋata ]

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4169)

Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus

Speaker: Takaronga Kuautonga

Example: Peel off the outer portion of the stem, clean it, remove the fibers and dry them in the sun, and then weave into rope for fishing and also to make the net for catching flying fish. Weave into rope for fishing, and also weave this fiber to attach to the frame, used to catch flying fish.

Semantic domains:

fakatangigata [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5228)

Scientific name: Dianella ensifolia

Example: Photo by raboul / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC. This plant can "call the snake." Hold the leaf between 2 fingers and pull down along the length of the leaf--it sounds like a snake so the snake comes. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

fakau sore [+]

[ ɸakau sore ]

Said to be the oldest tree on the island, the first tree. It grows slowly and grows nowhere else. Cutting this tree is not allowed.

Speaker: Ausdin Jackson

Semantic domains:

fau [+]

[ ɸau ]

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5054)

Scientific name: Hibiscus tilliaceus

Speaker: Ausdin Jackson

Example: Mature stems used for house posts. Take young shoots, strip bark, ret in sea for 1-2 weeks. Take out, separate and clean fiber, dry in sun for 3-4 days. Then weave grass skirt, for women and used ceremonially. In older times, this skirt was used in gardening. Can also use this fiber as handle for Pandanus baskets.

Semantic domains:

feimama [+]

[ ɸeimama ]

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4178)

Scientific name: Macaranga dioica

Speaker: Takaroga Kuautonga

Example: This is a source of house posts for temporary houses. The young stick split in half, and is used to grasp hot stones in earth oven.

Semantic domains:

fioata [+]

n. Tree to 10 m, dbh 30 cm. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5213)

Scientific name: Ficus

Example: The stems of this tree are good for firewood. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

foi’ata [+]

[ ɸoi’ata ]

n. banyan-forming fig tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4183)

Scientific name: Ficus aspera

Speaker: Takaroga Kuautonga

Example: The fiber of this plant is used as a rope. Collect the young shoots, strip off bark and use fresh as a rope, especially to tie and carry baskets or firewood. The birds eat fruits; hunters know this and they hunt there.

Semantic domains:

foyaka [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5259)

Scientific name: Macroptilium lathyroides

Example: Photo by jcorrie / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

funa moto [+]

[ ɸuna moto ]

n. small tree, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4157)

Scientific name: Ilex vitiensis

Speaker: Takaronga Kuautonga

Example: The stems are used for firewood, as it is hard and burns well, for example to roast taro, yams, and other foods.

Semantic domains:

funamoto [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5227)

Example: The stems of this shrub are used as firewood, because they are easy to light when dry. These stems are used for cooking. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

gaito [+]

n. Tree to 5 m. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5215)

Scientific name: Melochia odorata

Example: The stems of this plant are good for firewood and house posts (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

gasau [+]

[ ŋasau ]

wild cane

Speaker: Nigel Nesua

Semantic domains:

gasau [+]

[ ŋasau ]

wild cane

Speaker: Ausdin Jackson

Semantic domains:

gausau [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5226)

Scientific name: Miscanthus sinensis

Example: The stems of this grass are tied together and woven to make the wall of a traditional house. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

jigamotu [+]

[ ʃiŋamotu ]

n. tree, 2.5 to 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4180)

Scientific name: Cordyline fruticosa

Speaker: Takaroga Kuautonga

Example: The below ground portion of the stem is used to bake in an earth oven and eat. It has a sugary taste.

Semantic domains:

kamoni [+]

[ kamoni ]

A vine with yellow flowers that grows on the beach. Tied to the Popokiga fishing song.

Speaker: Anselon Seru

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2017

Semantic domains:

kamoni tai [+]

[ kamoni tai ]

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5058)

Scientific name: Canavalia

Speaker: Ausdin Jackson

Semantic domains:

kaomaru [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5251)

Scientific name: Abutilon indicum

Example: Photo by pl_stenger / iNaturalist, License: CC-BY-NC. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

kata [+]

[ kataʔ ]

n. epiphyte. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2527)

Scientific name: Asplenium nidus

Speaker: Anselon Seru

Semantic domains:

kaumagirasi [+]

n. Tree to 20 m, dbh 4 cm. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5218)

Scientific name: Bambusa vulgaris

Example: The thin stems of this plant are used to make a fishing rod. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

kauraku [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5271)

Scientific name: Vitex trifolia

Example: The stems of this plant are used as firewood. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

ko kava [+]

[ ko kaʋa ]

n. liana, growing in well developed secondary forest. flowers pale pink. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4154)

Scientific name: Derris indica

Speaker: Takaronga Kuautonga

Example: Used as a fish poison. Macerate stems and put into pool with water. Smash further until juice comes out. As a result, fish are stunned and can be harvested.

Semantic domains:

koka [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5231)

Scientific name: Macaranga tanarius

Example: The stem of this tree is good for making house posts as well as used for firewood. The leaves are also used as plates for holding food. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

kokouri [+]

n. type of plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5241)

Scientific name: Diospyros

Example: Planted as an ornamental, for shade (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

komkofatu [+]

n. Herb to 0.5 m. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5209)

Scientific name: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Example: This plant is used as a styptic, to stop wounds from bleeding. Mash as much leaf as needed to cover the wound and place it directly on the wound. Also, for treating sores to help them heal, take the tops of 4 stems and squeeze the juice directly on the sore. (authorities: Naumeta Rose (male, 32), Paul Fatapa (male, 74))

Semantic domains:

kouhmara [+]

[ kouhmara ]

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5057)

Scientific name: Abutilon

Speaker: Ausdin Jackson

Example: Unspecified medicinal use.

Semantic domains:

kovkavatua [+]

[ koʋkaʋatua ]

n. treelet, 2-3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4184)

Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium

Speaker: Takaroga Kuautonga

Semantic domains:

ABOUT

All content copyright © Futuna Aniwa community (2016).
Talking Dictionary produced by K. David Harrison and Jeremy Fahringer. Botanical consultants: Michael J. Balick, Gregory M. Plunkett, Tom A. Ranker and Sean Thackurdeen. (2016-2018)
Futuna Aniwa language contributors include Ausdin Jackson, Takaronga Kuautonga, Nigasau Misikofo, Paul Navaika, Nigel Nesua, Iarawoi Rezel Samana, Anselon Seru, Donald Tamalua Wotu, Yaugani Zeiake and others as credited within the dictionary entries.
The Futuna Aniwa-English Talking Dictionary was made possible by award no. 1555675 from National Science Foundation for "Collaborative Research: Plant, Fungal and Linguistic Diversity of Tafea Province, Vanuatu." This support is gratefully acknowledged.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
All rights reserved. Do not distribute or reproduce without permission.
how to cite: K. David Harrison. 2016. Futuna Aniwa Talking Dictionary. Swarthmore College. http://www.talkingdictionary.org/futuna_aniwa

Futuna-Aniwa

Talking Dictionary™

version 9.2016