Nafe (Kwamera)

[jare̤mə̤] n. herb, growing along open garden path. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3084)

Example: This plant is used to treat diarrhea in a baby 1-6 months old. The mother takes 4, 1" pieces and chews them, spitting it into the baby’s mouth 2x daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon until the diarrhea stops. Sometimes if the baby is sick from a spirit such as a yam, taro or sea spirit, the mother takes 2, 1" pieces of stem and 2, 1" pieces of Acalypha wilkesiana petiole (Plunkett et.al. #3081) and chews the two species together and spits on the affected baby, telling the spirit to "go away and leave the baby alone.

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n flower stamen

Speaker: Martial wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5109)

Example: To treat strong fever or flu, boil one handful of stem and leaves in 1 liter of water for 5 minutes. Drink this liquid warm, one cup a day for two days.

Scientific name: Mimosa pudica, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5110)

Example: Leaves fed to pig. Women string the seeds to make necklaces to sell. If the libido of a male is too strong ("bamboo is too strong"), mix juice from leaves and mix with 1/2 L water and drink 2 cups 1 day.

Scientific name: Leucaena leucocephala, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. sapling, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4235)

Example: 1. When in flower, it is s a good time to hunt swefa, a type of sea mollusc.

Scientific name: Hedycarya dorstenioides, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5143)

Example: Use this plant to stop the rain, take 4 tips of the plant’s branch and place them in a cross formation, with the tips pointing N, S, W, E, wash them in sea water, and then call for the rain to stop. Hang these tips in a tree with rope for five days. Stem used to weave roof rafter to attach coconut fronds to stick. Young men hunting in bush with slingshots, when run out of stones, use these young fruits to hunt birds.

Scientific name: Meryta neoebudica, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. kind of high prestige yam

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. kind of plant with sticky seed pods, seeds used medicinally for many ailments, including stomach ache

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. species of liana

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Piper austrocaledonicum, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. low-growing herb, growing in dense forest heavily impacted by cyclone. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3259)

Example: When a person has diarrhea with blood (dysentery) , this is the plant medicine used to treat it. Take leaves and squeeze juice into a cup of water and give this to the person who is ill. One teaspoon for young children and for an adult 1 full cup in the morning each day until fully cured.

Scientific name: Hemigraphis reptans, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5117)

Example: The flower stick is cut at both ends and used as a trumpet by the children. The root of this type is poisonous; other types are used as food.

Scientific name: Tacca leontopetaloides, Speaker: Johnson Noar

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. tree with a dense crown and edible fruit

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Burckella obovata, Speaker: Martial Wahe

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

[kwanpir] n. liana growing on coconuts and ficus trees, at edge of disturbed agro-forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3087)

Example: The fiber from the stem is used to make a local rope used to tie thatch on the house. Also used to make an armband to put on the Nisei (Euodia hortensis) leaves (Plunkett et al.#3077).

Scientific name: Flagellaria indica, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of yam, produces tubers with white flesh. It is fast-growing and produces a large bunch of tubers

Example: Very sweet and sticks to the teeth when eaten

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

kind of taro, has reddish-white flesh like a guava fruit, and has a reddish leaf petiole

Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta, Speaker: Johnson Noar

kind of coconut, produces the smallest coconut, with an oblong shape

Example: It is said that when children play in the bush they like to find this coconut to eat. The local name refers to children—small in size, just like a child. It is not considered a good variety for an adult to eat

Scientific name: Cocos nucifera, Speaker: Johnson Noar

string game (cat’s cradle)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. 1. kind of tree (bark used for rope), 2. cool season

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[kwanapwɨt] n. herb growing on roadside along coast road. Flowers bluish-purple. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3164)

Example: The leaves of this plant are used to treat diarrhea. Take a handful of leaves, chew them and suck out the liquid and swallow it, then spit out the fiber and all that remains in the mouth. Also known to be good as a cattle feed.

Scientific name: Desmodium canum, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. plant with sticky leaves and seed pods

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. liana growing on coconuts and ficus trees

Example: Useful rope for Tanna’s peoples, for tightening a traditional house, canoe and other uses. Photo taken at Mount Simian, south Tanna, Vanuatu, by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Smilax Vitiensis, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of yam, produces a tuber with reddish flesh. The tuber can be up to 2 meters long and very hard inside, taking a long time to boil. It is easy to grow

Example: During boiling, the water is said to turn red in color and then changes to whatever the color is of what it is being cooked with

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5137)

Example: Stem to build house posts. Can be used to make pipe. Ripe fruits, remove nut and eat food.

Scientific name: Ochrosia elliptica, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5165)

Scientific name: Sterculia banksiana, Speaker: Johnson Noar

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. red pepper, hot pepper

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. orange (fruit)

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of yam, produces tubers with white flesh, that are soft and sweet

Example: Only used in soup. The origin of this variety is thought to be Fiji, and the local name means “From Fiji”

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

noun a dried leaf used to ceremonially wrap kava root

Example: see more on Youtube

n. coconut leaf roof thatching

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Jean Eskar

kind of mango, regular mango for eating

Scientific name: Mangifera indica, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[naŋema:fu] n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3018)

Example: Construction: The timber of this plant is used as a wood to construct the posts of a house. It is also used to fashion paddles as an accessory to a canoe.

Scientific name: Turrillia lutea, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[nakanakan] n. terrestrial herb, 0.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3069)

Example: People use this to treat boils on the skin. Squeeze the "juice" of the leaf on the boil, and it will soften it so that the liquid inside the boil comes out. If you chew an amount of leaves first, then they will cover and stick to the boil so it will heal faster.

Scientific name: Ageratum conyzoides, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Martial 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

[nam nak] n. tree, 6-8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3152)

Scientific name: Crateva religiosa, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[namrami:ri] n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3001)

Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood. Construction: The timber of this plant is used to create any part of a house. It is considered a strong wood. Hunting: Pidgeons are attracted to this plant for their fruit. As a result, hunters gather around this plant when they desire to hunt the pidgeon.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus ciccoides, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. small plant with red flowers

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5154)

Example: To treat broken bones combine two handfuls of Commelina diffusa and 2 handfuls of this whole Orchid. Then take half of that and rub on broken bone area (e.g. leg). The Kastom doctor will then make a cut with a sharp piece of bamboo along break. The bone is then wrapped with the leaf of this orchid, then take the pother half of the mixture, mash in water 1.5 liter, and give person to drink. This treatment will help join bone back together.

Scientific name: Malaxis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

kind of banana

Example: Eaten ripe

Scientific name: Musa spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. tree with green sweet-smelling flowers

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Pisonia grandis, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5128)

Example: Medicine for gonnorhea. Collect two plants and clean their roots, boil whole in 2 liters water, boil 20-40 minutes, drink the mixture hot, 2 cups a day, 3 weeks. This condition presents as a burning in the penis, along with other issues. For heavy cough, take double handful leaf, boil 10-15 minutes in 1 liter water, 2 cups day warm, for 5 days. Pods used to calm children by shaking as rattle, when they are crying.

Scientific name: Cassia, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. herb to 1.5 m tall, flowers white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4722)

Example: This plant is used to welcome people by weaving the leaves and flowers into a head lei, locally known as a Kuanari. If there are no flowers, people weave the leaves and use these to welcome visitors. This species is becoming an invasive in the area.

Scientific name: Hedychium coronarium, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. terrestrial herb, 0.5 to 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3028)

Example: Ecological: This plant, which grows near streams, is known to hold water during the dry season. If the plant is harvested, then it is known that the stream will not continue to run. Thus, precaution is taken to keep this plant in good health.

Scientific name: Elatostema macrophyllum, Speaker: Martial Wahe

kind of taro, has white flesh. The leaf petiole is dark red

Example: Only used for roasting

Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. kind of tree (signals the taro harvest)

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of fern (collection: Michael J. Balick #5074)

Example: Used for food. Boil the leaves for 15-20 min, fry them, or put them in the earth oven to eat. They taste very good.

Scientific name: Microsorum, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[nasasa] 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: Jean Pascal Wahe

[nate̤hi̤j] n. well branched tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3125)

Example: Children from Tanna and throughout Vanuatu use this plant to make a slingshot. As a "medicine," when chickens are ruining your garden, if you plant this plant it will chase away the chickens.

Scientific name: Ervatamia orientalis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. tree; false nutmeg

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Myristica fatua, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4250)

Example: 1. The fruits are considered a special delicacy for men of Tanna island. Further information withheld.

Scientific name: Pometia pinnata, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. epiphyte. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2624)

Example: 1. The plant is used entirely to produce grass skirts, known as raus. First the plant is retted in hot water and left to sun dry. Then portions of the plant are sewn together or draped over a waist band to form an ankle-length skirt.

Scientific name: Phlegmariurus oceanianus, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of plant with small purple flowers

Speaker: Martial Wahe

[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

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5049)

Example: Used for house posts, rafters, and other construction-- very good for building in Tanna. Scrape the stem and put the pieces into a cup. Squeeze these pieces through with water, pour into a glass, and give to someone with heavy menstrual bleeding. 1 stem used to fill a cup, and drink one liter a day for one week. It is thought that shark meat causes bleeding. This will solve that. This plant is called "medicine of the shark".

Scientific name: Melicope, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. well branched tree, 10 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2983)

Example: Agricultural: When in flower, taro (Nerei) is said to be ready for harvest.

Scientific name: Metrosideros collina, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. Coleus sp.

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. herb to 2 m tall, growing on the edge of a homestead (collection: Michael J. Balick #4723)

Example: This plant is used to lift a person up--take two leaves together and make a "seat" and put it under a person, they can then be lifted up by the two people with a leaf on each side of that person. Use the leaf of this species to wrap rolled leaves of wild tobaco, to protect it and keep it fresh and moist

Scientific name: Piper methysticum, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. plant (to be identified)

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Hibiscus dilicieus, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[ne̤wo] n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3079)

Example: Used to treat pain. When a baby has an injection in the hospital, such as a vaccine, people take 1 handful of leaves, boil in a small amount of water to concentrate the resulting "juice" that comes out of the leaves, and put this fluid on the site of the pain, the injection, covering it with a leaf for 5-10 minutes, 2-3x daily until the baby stops crying.

Scientific name: Hibiscus tiliaceus, Speaker: Jean Pascal 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. kava

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. fern used as chicken feed

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. Tahitian chestnut

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. orange tree

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. decayed stump

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree used for house posts

Speaker: Martial Wahe

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

Speaker: Martial Wahe

[hipi:na] n. well branched tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3149)

Example: When young boys are circumcized, the leaf is mashed and rubbed on the skin of the boys who are sleeping in the nakamal--and mix with coconut oil to help hold it on the body. Said to help the person have better, smoother skin.

Scientific name: Murraya, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[nisej] n. shrub, 2.5-3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3077)

Example: This plant is used as a fiber; dry the leaves in the sun, and use them to make a grass skirt or other type of dress. Person in photo with this fiber on his arm is Narau Nasiv.

Scientific name: Euodia hortensis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. terrestrial; leaves up to ca. 2-2.5 m long. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2616)

Scientific name: Calochlaena straminea, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. casuarina

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. shrub, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2975)

Example: Animal Feed: The whole plant is fed to pigs to keep them fat and healthy. It is referred to as “pig medecine” and is given once per week.

Scientific name: Cyrtandra obovata, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nme̤hu] n. tree growing along ridge track in disturbed forest, next to garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #2979)

Example: Fuel: Dry portions of this plant are used as firewood.

Scientific name: Melochia odorata, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[nəfua] n. tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3010)

Example: Construction: The timber of this plant is used as a hardwood for any part of a house. It is considered one of the finest woods for this purpose. Ornamental: Branches of this tree are used to create carvings.

Scientific name: Fagraea berteroana, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

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.

Scientific name: Barringtonia asiatica, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. vine on pipturus tree, growing at edge between forest and garden of sweet potato and taro. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3147)

Example: This is used as a medicine to treat babies and children with fever. Take 1 handful of leaves and squeeze the "juice" from them into a cup, add a small amount of water, just enough to dilute the strong taste of the leaf liquid. Drink 3 or 4 times a day until fever is reduced. This liquid is also good for people who have done heavy work or who are old, as it is said to strengthen the veins. So, if a person is feeling week, they can drink a few cups of this preparation. The name "Nuamera" refers to "live veins," meaning that it will make your veins come alive and bec

Scientific name: Vigna, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. kind of beach vine

Speaker: Martial Wahe

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: Emmanuel Maasi

n. terrestrial; leaves dimorphic, ca. 0.6-0.7 m long. (collection: Tom A. Ranker #2615)

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

Scientific name: Austroblechnum melanoaulon, 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: Martial Wahe

n. decorative plant (Crinum sp.), Bislama: white lily. A kind of wild taro, eaten.

(Bislama) nuviavia

Scientific name: Bislama, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. wild kava

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. inalienable small offshoot tubers

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of laplap made from bananas and coconut

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. 1. kind of tree, 2. bent staff or stick used by toka dancers

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of watermelon, round, small, very sweet with small seeds (from E. Auckland)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

kind of coconut which is long and narrow

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of introduced legume with hairy beanpod

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. green onions (English shallot)

(Bislama) sarat

Scientific name: Bislama, Speaker: Martial Wahe

bamboo slit gong used to signal approach by woman to nakamal

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5047)

Example: To increase milk flow in a nursing mother, take a double handful of leaves and put in 1 liter of water. Drink one bottle twice a day for three days.

Scientific name: Alternanthera brasiliana, Speaker: Martial Wahe

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.

Scientific name: Excoecaria agallocha, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. branched tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4215)

Example: 1. When in flower, a local pidgeon, known as Tikurkak, prepares to lay its eggs. When the fruit dehisces its eggs are considered to have hatched.

Scientific name: Astronidium aneityense, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. bamboo (native species)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. liana growing in disturbed forest area along kwataren kastom road. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3096)

Example: People use this plant to soften the hair, by taking the roots and stem, pounding them with a stone, and squeezing the juice into the hair--it is said to make it very soft.

Scientific name: Nothocnide repanda, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. tree, 15 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3059)

Example: The stem is used to make house posts; the young stems are used to make bows and young boys use the bows made from this tree to hunt birds and flying foxes.

Scientific name: Dysoxylum aneityense, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi