Nafe (Kwamera)

n. kind of seaweed

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. terrestrial fern growing in weedy patch with other herbs at edge of open forest heavily impacted by cyclone. Leaves dimorphic. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3253)

Example: Used as a medicine to treat children who cannot walk. Rub smashed leaves on the knee of a child, "he will walk." For a child about 1 year old, rub the leaves on the knee and underside of the foot. This will make the child walk "easily and quickly." and will make the leg "lighter."

Scientific name: Blechnum, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5028)

Example: To reduce the pain of labor, squeeze double handful of leaves into 1 cup of cool water and give to the mother to drink.

Scientific name: Achyranthes aspera, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of fern (collection: Michael J. Balick #5073)

Example: To treat scabies, collect 5 whole plants, remove the soil, then boil in a bucket of water for 10-20 min and wash the scabies 2x daily for 2 weeks or until the scabies is dry.

Scientific name: Adiantum, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

kind of breadfruit, produces small round fruits with small projections (described as small needles) on the outside of the fruit. The tree is very tall

Scientific name: Artocarpus altilis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

kind of plantain

Example: Used for cooking and lap-lap

Scientific name: Musa spp., Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3151)

Example: The bark of this tree has a strong smell, and people macerate it and use it to bath. It is said to perfume the body, particularly after hard work. People use it to cover all of their body. A piece of the bark can be put with a person’s clothing to add a nice smell.

Scientific name: Cryptocarya turbinata, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5099)

Example: Fruits edible and sold in market to earn money.

Scientific name: Dracontomelon vitiense, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. tree, h= 15 m. young brown elongate fruits with a greyish green fleshy calyx. Thick branchlets with the leaves at the top. White latex. For the locals it is the main kind of burckella obovata (round fruits). (collection: Laurence Ramon #332)

Scientific name: Burckella, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. tree, h = 8 m (collection: Laurence Ramon #320)

Scientific name: Garcinia pseudoguttifera, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. copra

(Bislama) kopra

Scientific name: Bislama, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. sweet plantain

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. terrestrial, climbing vine-like. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2618)

Example: The rachis is used to fasten posts and rafters in traditional houses.

Scientific name: Lygodium reticulatum, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5131)

Example: Fruits edible when ripe. For dengue fever, take 1 bundle of leaves and stems, mash and place in pot with 2 L water, boil 30 minutes, drink warm. Drink 1 liter 1x day for 4-6 days depends on strength of dengue. "Sends" dengue out from your body.

Scientific name: Physalis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[kwanəraj] n. tree, 6-7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3101)

Example: People use this plant as a medicine to treat bad knees. Peel the bark, take 1 handful and put it in a cup of water until the water becomes black. Drink it 3x daily as needed until the knee pain disappears and the knee heals. Children use the seeds as a glue in school work.

Scientific name: Cordia dichotoma, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. inalienable the remnant of the planted taro form which a new tuber has developed (at the base of the harvested root)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

kind of yam, related to kawehae with a large mass of tubers that have red flesh and are sweet. It has the same type of flesh as that variety but the leaves differ in shape

Example: If a person loses some of his yams in the garden to various conditions, such as poor soil or disease, these two varieties will always continue to grow, being very hardy and resilient. This yam was originally from Iankahi but now the village is losing this variety. However, some people in Port Resolution still grow it

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. seed of nƗsuvás

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. seed

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5041)

Example: Flower attracts flying fox--hunters know this. Nut is edible, eat green, split fruit to obtain it. Raw, can also fry it in oil and dry in sun, keep 1-2 week to eat. Thios is an important food for the cyclone season. People prepare it when they know the cyclone is coming (emergency food).

Scientific name: Barringtonia racemosa, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n house component (poles under thatching)

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Martial Wahe

[kwarwisiwir] n. epiphyte growing in dense forest. Flowers yellow-orange to bright orange. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3047)

Example: Ornamental: Flowers are used to decorate houses.

Scientific name: Dendrobium, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5120)

Example: When parents go away to a feast or garden, children take a pile of soil 12 in. diameter, put this flower on top, surround wth some ashes and then hide in the house to wait to see if the dwarf spirit appears (Karwase Haruase). Sometimes the spirit will come and then scare the children. Ancestors used these spirits and games to teach children to stay together and not wander alone. As the dwarf spirit will take you.

Scientific name: Volkameria inermis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. laplap leaf

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. species of magnolia tree

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Pittosporum campelli, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nakur] n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2973)

Example: Agricultural: When this plant is in flower, it is said that taro (Nerei) and Ipomoea (Kwarei) are ready to plant.

Scientific name: Boehmeria platyphylla, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kinds of yam. There are sub-varieties of this that produce tubers with either red or white flesh

Example: Only used for making lap-lap for kastom ceremonies

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. small, round wild yam

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. kind of tree, used in canoe construction

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5039)

Example: This is the female type of 5037. Leaf is used to cover the top ridge of a roof on a house. Lasts 5 or more years. Women use the leaf for grass skirts. Take leaves, twist, tie in a line, dry in sun and then use to make skirt. Leaves have a nice fragrance.

Scientific name: Alpinia, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[næhɨr] n. well branched tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3111)

Example: People use trunk for houseposts as the stem is very straight. The stem also can be used for firewood.

Scientific name: Syzygium myriadenum, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[naruwakiri] n. herb, 2.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3082)

Example: To make a strap to hold the ornamental fiber "Nisei" (Plunkett et al #3077) on a person’s arm. Dry the stem, remove the fibers, and weakve into a strap. There is a legend that is told about this plant, concerning a rat and a fox. The rat and fox stole a banana from the Devil’s garden. The Devil caught the fox and told him not to come back. The rat said "lets go to the garden" and the fox said no. The rat said "go take these leaves, and tie the leaves with coconut fiber--and he told the fox to lie down and the rat sewed the leaves on the fox. ...

Scientific name: Donax canniformis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. banyan growing next to house along main path. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3150)

Example: The bark of this tree is used to make a kastom strap, particularly worn in the Toka Dance, where people have different ranks, and the kastom belt of this bark shows a person’s rank.

Scientific name: Ficus cf. tinctoria, Speaker: Martial Wahe

kind of breadfruit, produces a very long stem, the highest of any breadfruit, and then forms fruits when it becomes a very tall tree

Example: The wood is no good for making canoes as it is too soft

Scientific name: Artocarpus altilis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. tree; false nutmeg

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Myristica fatua, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nari fem] n. sparsely branched tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3005)

Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Construction: The timber of this plant is used to createany part of a house. It is considered a strong wood. Medicine: This plant is used to treat muscle soreness. It can be prepared in tow ways. One way is to boil and branch of leaves and then bathe (“swim”) with the resulting water. Another way is to heat a branch over a fire and rub on sore area for approximately 1 minute, after showering. Note: This plant is recognized as similar to M. latifolia. However, the medicinal action of this plant is regarded as inferior to the former.

Scientific name: Melicope bonwickii, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. plant (to be identified)

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Syzygium aneityense, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[narwas] n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3072)

Example: People use the fruits as medicine to treat diabetes, "cancer" and ulcers. Collect ripe fruits, put the juice in a bottle and drink. The bark can be boiled in water and consumed to treat diabetes, 1 handfull of bark to 1 liter of water. Drink 3x daily to treat diabetes. It was said that Sam’s wife’s HA1C score went from 14 down to 6 using this remedy.

Scientific name: Morinda citrifolia, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. damaged tree, growing in open forest heavily impacted by cyclone. flowers pale-yellowish tan. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3234)

Example: The wood of this tree is used for building houses. When a person has a large cut, chew the young leaves of this plant until soft, roll up into some of the same leaf, heat on the fire for 5 minutes, put the heated leaves directly on the wound and secure this with a cloth. To treat diarrhea in small children, parents chew the leaves and give the juice that extrudes to the kids, 1 teaspoon, 2x daily for 2 days or until the condition goes away.

Scientific name: Macaranga dioica, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. poinsetta

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5146)

Example: Stem used to make bow. Stem for ax handle.

Scientific name: Allophylus cobbe, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. epiphyte growing on cyathea trunk, growing along garden trail. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3066)

Example: This plant is used to reduce the pain of toothache. Take the stem and peel it, remove the bark and place the bark against a sore tooth. Keep it is place, until the person feels better. Can use this treatment 2-3 times. It is said to "take the pain away." The tooth may rot away naturally, but this is good for the pain that accompanies toothache. The dried fruits and seeds of the plant can be mixed with pig food, such as coconut, and when the female pigs eat it, they will not have piglets. This is said to be used when a person has too many pigs.

Scientific name: Cyrtandra cymosa, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nəfkafa:i] n. liana growing on trunk of hedycarya dorstenioides, in dense forest along ridge. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3009)

Example: Animal Feed: The green leaves of this plant are used to feed pigs. Hunting: The inner part of the long dry rhizome is woven to create a pidgeon trap.

Scientific name: Epipremnum pinnatum, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5016)

Example: When a person is sick put two of these large leaves together and use them to "carry" a person to the medicine specialist. If the sick person is a man, six people line up and put many leaves on the palm of their interwoven hands and then they carry the sick person while saying a special incantation. This is a very old practice. If a person has a stomach pain take 2 of the white inflorescences with the right hand and give them to the person to eat, twice a day (in the morning and eveing) for 4 days. The pain will go away. When kava is chewed to prepare the beverage, the roots are sp

Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5138)

Example: Remove base from flower and chew flower--tastes sweet. Long ago there were no pens, you could use this flower to write message on wood.

Scientific name: Malvaviscus arboreus, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5060)

Example: Kastom medicine to ascertain the type of sickness a person has. Take two small 6 in. long branches with leaves, and place this on the person along with another unspecified plant. Will help diagnosis.

Scientific name: Breynia disticha, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[ne̤pa̤rɨm] n. vine, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3103)

Example: Before there were many root crops such as taro and cassava, people would use the roots of this plant as a food, after roasting it in the fire. The roots are said to be very large and edible.

Scientific name: Pueraria lobata, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of fern (collection: Michael J. Balick #5127)

Example: Medicinal use. For back pain, take double handful of leaf, mash it in 1/2 liter of water, squeeze into cup. Drink 2 cups / day, morning and afternoon for 5 days.

Scientific name: Nephrolepis biserrata, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5035)

Example: Root is sold to earn money, as perfume and oil is from this. Grandparents used to dry the wood over a cooking fire in a kitchen when a person would get the flu. To help, they’d take dried and heated wood, scrape one cup’s worth into hot water, and then breathe over the steam bath. Drink water afterwards. Do thhis once a day for three days.

Scientific name: Santalum austrocaledonicum, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

kind of cassava, produces small roots but the plant yields in 3 months after planting

Scientific name: Manihot esculenta, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Ficus scabra, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. treelet, 1.5 to 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4243)

Example: 1. Known as the spirit of kava, the inner stem of young leaves can be eaten as bush fodder.

Scientific name: Macropiper latifolium, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. parasitic epiphyte growing on upper branches of fagraea berteroana, in dense forest along ridge. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3012)

Example: Hunting: Birds are attracted to this plant for their flowers. As a result, hunters gather around this plant when they desire to hunt these birds.

Scientific name: Amyema aneityensis, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

[nikinapus] n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3067)

Example: Young boys make bows from the stems of this plant, and use them for hunting as the wood is hard and strong. If a boy needs a bow urgently, to hunt, he can use this.

Scientific name: Acalypha cf. repanda, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[nikinapas] n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3078)

Scientific name: Acalypha wilkesiana, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. dragon plum

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. small tree, 2.5-3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3076)

Example: If a person has a sore body or headache, someone else chews the leaf of this plant and spits the chewed leaf on the specific part of the person where the pain is found. The herb should stick to that part of the body and be applied 1x in the morninig and 1x in the afternoon, leaving the plant on the person as long as it stays.

Scientific name: Breynia disticha, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nɨkriakei] n. tree, 15 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3019)

Example: Food: The ripe fruits (yellow or soft green) are consumed. Exudate: The yellow exudate of this plant is used as a light-duty glue.

Scientific name: Garcinia pseudoguttifera, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. fish poison tree

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. flowering plant

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Melochia odorata, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. fern used as chicken feed

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. high prestige yam

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. fern, used for tying bundles of wild cane in house construction

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5031)

Example: For Kastom ceremonies, use this plant to decorate the roots of Kava that is given to a chief. Also used in women’s grass skirt for kastom dance. When young girls are getting their first period (menstruation), they wear a grass skirt from this plant to be fragrant (in order to cover any blood smell).

Scientific name: Euodia hortensis, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. shrub, 2.5-3 m tall

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Evodia hortensis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. casuarina

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of breadfruit, has small fruits that are more oblong than round

Example: The stem of this variety is good for canoe-making as it will last for many years of use

Scientific name: Artocarpus altilis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. shrub or bushy tree; parasol leaf tree

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Macaranga tannarius, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree with edible fruits

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Terminalia catappa, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. Malay apple, (Syzygium malaccensis)

(Bislama) nakafika

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5158)

Example: When a person is stung by a jellyfish, take 5-6 leaves and whip the sore for 5-10 minutes and this will reduce the soreness of the wound.

Scientific name: Ipomoea pes-caprae, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5163)

Example: Scrape inner bark (handful) and mix it with MJB 5157 in 1 liter water squeeze in bottle, drink 1 cup 2x daily for mother who is not producing enough milk for baby. Birds eat fruits -- all types like it (flying fox) also.

Scientific name: Ficus kajewskii, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. epiphyte on dead tree in open area at edge of forest and garden. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3138)

Example: Secret medicine--not to discuss

Scientific name: Scyphularia pycnocarpa, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. epiphyte. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2620)

Scientific name: Davallia sessilifolia, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. epiphyte on main trunks of canopy-sized trees, growing in dense forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3120)

Scientific name: Vittaria elongata, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. epiphyte on syzygium myriadenum, outside of transect. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2608)

Example: 1. A locally revered kestrel, known as tikurkak, makes its bed with the fronds of this fern.

Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5033)

Example: Young leaves edible, boil with water or cook in coconut milk. Cook fruit in boiling water, then cook in coconut milk. Cook fruits for 6-10 minutes. He was taught this by his grandparents who showed him how to eat wild plants; his grandfather wasa historically significant person in the Port Resolution area, especially in reference to medicine.

Scientific name: Ficus wassa, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. fruit (general)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree to 7 m tall, dbh 49 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4733)

Example: Wood from this tree is good for making house posts, as it is very strong. The wood is considered as excellent firewood. To restore energy when a person is tired, chew the leaf, swallow the juice, and spit out the leaf--it will make the person feel better.

Scientific name: Syzygium malaccense, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. herb growing on roadside along coast road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3169)

Example: This plant is used by dogs who have an upset stomach. They go to eat this grass and then their stomachs feel better. Pigs feed on this grass.

Scientific name: Eleusine indica, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. kind of tree, with edible green fruit with sweet milky white flesh, collected wild and eaten on Tanna

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of tree (var. of kƗrha)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of thick grass

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5096)

Example: Fruits used to feed hens to increase fertility -- mix seed with dry coconut and give to hen to increase eggs.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus ciccoides, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2992)

Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Hunting: Pidgeons are known to eat the fruit of this plant. As a result, hunters will cluster about these trees to hunt this animal. Construction: The timber of the plant is used to make roof members of local houses.

Scientific name: Parasponia andersonii, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

hole for house post

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. house central post

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Jean Eskar

[tikinaʊ] n. small grass growing on large rock in middle of flowing stream. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3113)

Scientific name: Pogonatherum crinitum, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5090)

Example: Take a coconut leaf, take out the midribs so it becomes a sharp spine, impale the seeds on this, and light them for use as a torch. Leaf used to cover earth oven, and can be put between the stones and the wrapped cooking leaves in order to keep the food clean. Children play with the seeds as marbles

Scientific name: Ricinus communis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. castor bean tree

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. once-branched tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3139)

Example: Stem used to plant kava (use it like a spade) but even when you have a spade, you should still use this to dig the hole. The leaf is used to make laplap, a food made from taro or yam with coconut and other foods added. Take the leaf and wrap the laplap and then roast the package on the fire or cook the leaf in a pot of water.

Scientific name: Cordyline fruticosa, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. inalienable sprout, shoot (of a plant which sends up multiple sprouts such as kava, banana, bamboo, etc.)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

[tuprapwej] n. understory tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3143)

Example: The wood of this tree makes good house posts and is also used as firewood

Scientific name: Claoxylon, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5121)

Example: Peel stem and chop pieces of stem and pieces of stem of Nothocnide repanda (MB 5122), add fresh water, squeeze in hair, rub head in one direction, do this for one month then hair will turn blond color (for Toka dance) and will also help dreadlocks.

Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. vine in hibiscus tiliaceus tree, growing on rocky roadside cut along coast road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3163)

Example: The vine is used for rope. Collect a length of vine appropriate for the task, heat it over a fire, peel the outer "skin" off and use the rest of the vine, fresh, to tie the poles and rafters used to make a traditional house.

Scientific name: Cayratia trifolia, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, 15 m tall

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Dysoxylum aneityensis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. orange or lemon thorn

Speaker: Martial Wahe

kind of yam, thought to be from Wallis and Futuna, considered a “traveling yam” that has gone to many islands. The flesh is somewhat hard and not sweet

Example: Used to make lap-lap to guests and family to welcome them

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5020)

Example: To treat flu take, a handful of leaves and squeeze them into a cup. Add water, and give to the sick person to drink. Takethis mixture once in the morning and once in the afternoon for two to three days to treat the flue. One can also take four pieces of the stem, about teo to 3 inches ling, chew, and spit juice onto the sick person’s whole body. 1 cup am/ 1 cup afternoon. 2-3 days to treat flu. Take 4 pieces of stem 2-3" long, chew and spit on stick on sick person, spit on whole body. 2x day, 2-3 days as for cup morn and afternoon. Spit helps to chase evil spirit out of body. Common

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa, Speaker: Martial Wahe