n.sprawling herb, with erect flowering stems (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3237)
Example: Children take the inflorescence of this plant and use it to find and poke lizards hiding in the bush. For treatment of an unspecified spiritual sickness, chew 2, 2" pieces of the stem to get rid of the sickness, spitting the material on the hair and body of an ill person; use only 1 time.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5108)
Example: When woman does not have period for 2-3 months and is pregnant, people say the lizard could eat the baby. To avoid this, boil a handful of stem shavings in 1/2 L water, for 6 minutes and give this drink to the woman twice a day for 5 days. Then the bleeding will stop. There are also dietary restrictions: no coconut, oil, salt, curry. The woman can also not swim in sea for 5 days. But the baby will be healthy if these instructions are followed.
Scientific name: Achyranthes aspera, Speaker: Johnson Noar
n.tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3226)
Example: This is a "calendar plant," tied to the sea. When it flowers, it is time to harvest sea urchins. The dry wood is used to mke a fire when a person has no matches.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5065)
Example: Tricks the rat, sees seeds from bottom, but when climbs herb, can’t see it--so name refers to tricking the rat. If a person drinks too much kava over many years, boil 5-6 whole plant for 15 minutes in water (1.5 L) and put in pot, drink 3 cups, 1x / day for 3 days to detoxify the effects of kava. A person who has drunk too much kava over a long time feels it in the body--weak, hard to wake early, appetite is low, body feels heavy.
Scientific name: Phyllanthus imbricatus, Speaker: Johnson Noar
[koa̤pe]
n.tree in house area near village, 5 m tall (collection: Michael J. Balick #4720)
Example: The fruit of this tree is edible. The stem yields posts for building houses. The wood from the tree is said to be very strong, so larger parts of the tree can be used for house construction. The leaves are used to treat diarrhea. A person chews 4 leaves at a time as long as needed.
Scientific name: Psidium guajava, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5045)
Example: If a person comes to your garden and tries to spoil it with a special leaf by rubbing it on his foot and walking around or rubbbing it on a stick and tossing it into a garden, take 8 branches of this species (MB 5045) and put 2 in each corner of a new garden. If branches are placed when the garden is planted, it will not be spoiled by this black magic. To stop having children chew 4 pieces of young stem 2 in. long. 2 times daily for one week and the woman will no longer have children.
Scientific name: Desmodium incanum, Speaker: Johnson Noar
n.subshrub, 75 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3236)
Example: This plant is used as a source of fiber to make grass skirts. Gather a lot of stems, place in seawater with a stone on top (the process known as retting) for one month. Collect the stems, pull off the bark and remove the fiber, allowing it to dry in the sun until it bleaches white, when it can be woven into the traditional grass skirt.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5135)
Example: When this plant grows to 2m, peel bark and put it in salt water to rett the stem. To do this, tie the stems in budles and cover the bundle with a stone in the sea. After one week, rett the stem by pulling out the strong fibers and discarding the rest. Dry the fibers, then make a grass skirt from this. The leaves can be crushed and used as a styptic for wounds to stop bleeding.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5115)
Example: Hardwood, for carving. For building house posts. If wood is dry when it is wet outside, this wood will light and burn faster than any other wood (due to high sap content).
Scientific name: Guettarda speciosa, Speaker: Johnson Noar
[kwankukepu]
n.liana growing into canopy of Myristica fatua tree, growing in forest along kwataren kastom road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3092)
Example: The vine of this plant is used to tie an outrigger on to a canoe. Heat up the stem and peel off the outer bark; while it is still warm use it to tie an outrigger to the canoe. When the stem cools it becomes very hard. It is also used to tie sugar cane.
Scientific name: Smilax vitiensis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
kind of cassava. When the soil is good, this variety produces the largest root. A man named Charley got it from Port-Vila and brought it to Port Resolution and it is named for him
Scientific name: Manihot esculenta, Speaker: Johnson Noar
[nejɨk]
n.herb, growing as weed in kava garden. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3148)
Example: If a tree is dying from fungal infection, this plant should be planted near one’s garden, near crops or that tree to help protect crops from that disease.
Scientific name: Plectranthus scutellarioides, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
[nako̤ŋhar]
n.tree, 7-7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3100)
Example: This plant has an aroma, and people are said to take the leaf and squeeze it on them in a shower or while bathing with the purpose of keeping evil spirts away. In particular, this can be used when a person is doing a Toka dance, or when that person is visiting a cemetary, burying a person--to avoid having a problem with the spirits. This can also be used with Euodia hortensis (Plunkett et al. 3077) or alone.
Scientific name: Pittosporum campbellii, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
[nakur]
n.sparsely branched tree, 5-6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3088)
Example: This plant is used as a medicine for throat infections. Take 2, 2" pieces of the leaf, chew and swallow the juice, spit out the fibers, 3x daily, for as long as the throat hurts.
Scientific name: Polyscias scutellaria, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
[na̤məri]
n.tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3106)
Example: The wood of this tree is hard and people use it to make a bow. Cut the stem, heat it over a fire to make it stronger and then carve it to the size desired.
Scientific name: Acacia spirorbis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
[nami̤rew]
n.tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3042)
Example: Construction: The wood of this tree is strong and considered a choice wood for house construction. Fuel: The wood of this tree is used as an excellent firewood.
Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
[nanim]
n.tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2986)
Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Hunting: Flying foxes and pidgeons are known to eat the fruit of this plant. As a result, hunters will cluster about these trees to hunt these animals.
Scientific name: Ficus adenosperma, 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.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5169)
Example: Used during shaving ceremonies leaves mixed with Euodia and mashed coconut and used to oil the body of young man being shaved and the person doing the ceremony. Stems when mashed are very fragrant and also tied around head. Ceremony for young lady who has first menstruation, she goes away with her family, when she comes back cover her with same mixture of plants to make her nice. During her first period she is separated from her family. Ancient people, when needed water, take stem, mash 4-6 pieces and squeeze into coconut shell and drink it. So squeeze the stems together after mashing them alo
n.type of fern (collection: Michael J. Balick #5111)
Example: Use leaf to line earth oven on top of stones to protect lap lap from burning. If you’re building a bush house in the forest, children can sleep on these leaves in a temporary house.
Scientific name: Microsorum grossum, Speaker: Johnson Noar
n.terrestrial herb, 0.8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3068)
Example: People use this to make a broom, by cutting the roots and tying a bundle of stems together. The leaves fall off naturally and this is used as a broom.
[newri]
n.tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2989)
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.
Scientific name: Melicope latifolia, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
[naropaŋ]
n.well branched tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3037)
Example: Hunting: Flying foxes are known to eat the fruit of this tree. When the bats are desired, hunters will gather near this tree. Ceremonial: During kava preparation, chewed kava roots are placed on the green leaves of this plant before extracting. Many leaves are used for this purpose. Fuel: To make a fire, dried sticks are rubbed together on a plane of wood. The friction creates smoldering ash over time, useful for igniting dried material.
Scientific name: Ficus septica, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5038)
Example: Fruits edible when ripe. The stem is used for timber and sawn timber. Flowers attract fruit bats. Hunters, knowing this, hunt the bats at night.
Scientific name: Syzygium malaccense, 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.
[naka̤ri̤təŋ]
n.tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3107)
Example: Used to trap birds. Cut the stem of this plant and collect the sap. Take a small vine locally known as Nanupi, and roll the vine into a ball, infuse it with white latex which then turns brown, put it in a papaya or banana tree--when a bird comes to feed on the fruit of those trees, it gets stuck to the ball and can’t leave. This is good for harvesting small birds to be eaten.
Scientific name: Ochrosia, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe
n.tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3107)
Example: Used to trap birds. Cut the stem of this plant and collect the sap. Take a small vine locally known as Nanupi, and roll the vine into a ball, infuse it with white latex which then turns brown, put it in a papaya or banana tree--when a bird comes to feed on the fruit of those trees, it gets stuck to the ball and can’t leave. This is good for harvesting small birds to be eaten.
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
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.
n.shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2972)
Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Fish Poison: To help catch fish, a bundle of leaves are squeezed and placed in a stream. After some time, the fish appear stunned and are caught.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5042)
Example: Leaf used to feed pigs--when looking for dried coconuts, gather this. The seeds are edible put them directly on fire and cook for 3-5 minutes.
Scientific name: Canavalia rosea, Speaker: Johnson Noar
n.shrub, 4-6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3090)
Example: This plant is known as "fishbone leaf" as the edge of the leaf tears away and the remaining part is serrated. It is a powerful medicine that is secret.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5123)
Example: Young leaves are edible fresh or can be boiled for 5 min in pot. Can roll young leaves around coconut pieces and eat it with salt. Green fruits edible. Red fruits boiled, salted and eaten.
n.Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia), eaten or used for medicine to heal many ailments, and as a poison antidote, also gives energy and improved cognitive function, has a bad taste
n.tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3109)
Example: People use the seeds and stem of this tree for fish poison. Pound the seed and wood and put it in a pool in the ocean at low tide. Fish are stunned and can be harvested.
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.subshrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3161)
Example: The leaf of this plant is added to soup in which meat is being cooked, for example, turtle meat, which has a strong smell. If this leaf is placed in the pot, it will make the soup smell better
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5167)
Example: For toothaches, take inner bark, scrape it into water and use to rinse mouth--pain will go away. Stem for house posts. Birds like this flower.
Scientific name: Syzygium kajewskii, Speaker: Johnson Noar
n.tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3239)
Example: This is a toxic plant for cows. When they eat it, they die. But the bark can be used to cover food for cooking--cover taro, cassava and other tubers with the leaves when they are being cooked on the fire. The leaves are not toxic to people--only cows.
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.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5116)
Example: If a person gets cut while on reef, take leaves and burn them to an ash. Put this powder on the sore for one day to dry and heal cut. For constipation, take 1 handful bark, mash it, put with coconut water (one coconut’s worth), and drink a cup once. Don’t do other activites. This will clear bowel within a day. Very powerful.
n.type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5132)
Example: Flower for decorating things like at marriage, church, opening of new building like dispensary. Ancient people, when needed water, take stem, mash 4-6 pieces and squeeze into coconut shell and drink it. So squeeze the stems together after mashing them along their entire length with wood post. This can be used to collect water today when a person is in the forest and thirsty. Leaves wrap banana laplap. Put in saucepan boil 20 minutes, toss out water, take leaf off and eat laplap. Leaf folded not tied. People say its native to Vanuatu
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