Nafe (Kwamera)

n. well branched tree, 8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3091)

Example: The leaf can be used to wrap food for carrying, for example, wrapping up crabs.

Scientific name: Dillenia biflora, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. lichen

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5141)

Scientific name: Geophila, Speaker: Johnson Noar

kind of yam, produces a tuber with white flesh and is easy to grow

Example: Has a spreading habit in the garden. The tuber is soft and easy to boil

Scientific name: Dioscorea spp., Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of coconut, produces a medium-sized, round fruit

Example: When a person drinks the water from this fruit, it does not seem very sweet. The local name refers to “expired,” meaning that the fruit has expired and therefore the juice is not very sweet

Scientific name: Cocos nucifera, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5072)

Example: House posts, rafters, good for building in Tanna. Scrape stem in cup and squeeze with water into a glass to give someone with heavy menstrual bleeding. 1 stem to fill a cup, mix with water, 1 liter /day for 7 days. Shark causes bleeding, maybe the person ate too much shark. This will solve that. This plant is called "medicine of the shark".

Scientific name: Melicope, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant; box bean or St. Thomas’ bean

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Entada phaseoloides, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, small

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Meryta neo-ebuca, 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 #5166)

Example: For the kastom ceremonies, this can provide the face paint color yellow. Cut open the ripe fruit and paint directly with this. Prior to artificial colors, people used this for yellow and Bixa orellana for red to paint faces and skin.

Scientific name: Dendrobium, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. shrub (1 to 1,5 m) (collection: Laurence Ramon #322)

Scientific name: Hanslia ormocarpoides, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

string game (cat’s cradle)

Speaker: Martial 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. 1. Garcinia pancheri, 2. kind of introduced fruit tree with elongated, green fruit

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

[kwani̤ni̤] n. herb to 1 m, flowers yellow (collection: Michael J. Balick #4730)

Example: The entire plant is pulled up, the stems bound together and used to make a local broom.

Scientific name: Sida, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. kind of small plant with fragrant leaves

Speaker: Martial 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. orange (fruit)

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. 1. kind of luminous lichen, fungus, mushroom, 2. sea sponge, 3. soft corals, 4. comb and wattle of a fowl

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. manioc (var. of manto)

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of cassava, from Port-Vila

Example: The root of this variety is made into lap-lap used in certain ceremonies

Scientific name: Manihot esculenta, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. shrub or small tree; shield aralia, or plum aralia

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Polycias stecullaria, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nakwanumɨn] rock earth oven

Example: see more on Youtube

Speaker: Martial 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. 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

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. tree, 6 m tall

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Alphitonia zizyphoides, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5027)

Example: Leaves are used as pig feed to make them grow faster. fed to pigs to make them grow faster. Various butterflied can also get stuck on this plant, so bird’s can also get stuck when trying to eat these insects and can then be hunted or collected.

Scientific name: Pisonia umbellifera, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

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. 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: Martial Wahe

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 teh 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 leaaves on the fox. So, the rat an

Scientific name: Donax canniformis, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

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. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5071)

Example: Stem used for stick for Toka dance, due to it’s "hook" shape. . Axe handles and bows are made from this tree, very hard wood.

Scientific name: Croton insularis, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5024)

Example: To treat a cut or sore, collect leaves, bruise by rubbing in hand and apply directly to the sore. Whole plant dried and used as a broom.

Scientific name: Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. large tree, 10-14 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3124)

Example: The wood of this plant smells bad. It is locally called a type of "stink wood." When young children get circumsized in kastom ways, to change the leaves for their bandage, take off the bark of this stem, take the inside part and scrape it--mix a handful of hte scrapings with grated coconut, put it together in a leaf, put it on the fire, heat it, when the coconut is browned, squeeze it together to get the "milk" that is yellow in color. When young children swim in saltwater to dry the cut from the circumcision, squeeze this on that area to help heal it. Another use is to tr

Scientific name: Dysoxylum amooroides, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. kind of plant with small purple flowers

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, dbh about 30-40 cm (collection: Laurence Ramon #329)

Scientific name: Syzygium cf. aneityense, Speaker: Martial 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 forone 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: Johnson Noar

n. tree to 6 m tall

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Morinda citrifoli, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[nafare rota] n. tree, 5 m tall with 3 branches (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3097)

Example: The leaves are woven to make mats, hats, baskets, fans. When pollen is released from the flower it is said that fish in the sea are healthy. The roots are used for tying things, pound pieces of root and strip them off and weave into rope. A person can cut a root in a way that makes a brush to paint grass skirts and other objects. This rope can also be used to tie various leaves that are used to cover lap-lap. The leaves can be harvested, the fiber removed and woven into rope.

Scientific name: Pandanus macrocarpus, Speaker: Jean Pascal 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. 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: Emmanuel Maasi

n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3026)

Example: Hunting: The wood of the tree is used, as the body of a spear, to hunt fishes and turtles. To fashion the spear, an appropriate length of wood is cut, debarked, heated (to straighten) and then topped with an iron point. Note: Iaruman is the name of the male form of this plant. Prane is the female form of this plant.

Scientific name: Rapanea amischocarpa, 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: Martial Wahe

[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

kind of coconut, has the largest fruit of any coconut and the fruit is more oblong in shape

Example: The fiber from this variety (from the sheath base) is used for kastom ceremonies to cover kava when the young boys are coming out from their circumcision houses. This fiber is also wrapped around the middle of a bow to give it strength and help prevent it from cracking. The fiber can also be used to make a sleeping hammock as it is strong and clean

Scientific name: Cocos nucifera, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. hibiscus tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. understory plant, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4209)

Example: 1. Ripe fruits are used to feed pigs. The food is considered to fatten the pigs and is fed to them accordingly.

Scientific name: Cyrtandra, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3258)

Example: A sharpened stick made from this plant is used to take the husk off of coconuts. The wood of this plant is used to make a child’s bow--carve the bark off and bend it with a string made from the banyon (Ficus) tree to both ends of the bow.

Scientific name: Acalypha grandis, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. fern tree

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. royal palm tree

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. flowering plant

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Melochia odorata, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree used for house posts

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5095)

Example: In times of disaster, can roast root in fire like sweet potatoe 20 min--chew the root to get the sweet tasting food and spit out fiber.

Scientific name: Pueraria montana, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5017)

Example: Collect young leaves and boil in water or fry it and eat as a cabbage. To cover fish for cooking, take petiole with many leaves and bend to cover fish and put in sauce pan. When cooked eat fish and leaves.

Scientific name: Polyscias cumingiana, Speaker: Martial 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. kind of tree, leaves used for penis wrapper (Related to nepek tree)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree with edible fruits

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Terminalia catappa, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area.

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Barringtonia asiatica, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree with spiky red and yellow flowers, not used for anything

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Ficus kajewskii, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5133)

Example: Stem for house building. Young leaves are very strong and used as plates during large kastom ceremonies. Sap can be used to cover sores from flies in order to protect it. Stem good for firewood as does not give much smoke--does not bother eyes as much as other wood.

Scientific name: Macaranga tanarius, Speaker: Martial Wahe

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

Scientific name: Vittaria elongata, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5139)

Example: Ornamental plant. Known to be poisonous.

Scientific name: Cascabela thevetia, Speaker: Johnson Noar

kind of taro

Example: Good for roasting in an earth oven and has a very nice taste

Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[nurap] 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: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. kind of tree, wood used for pierced ear and septum ornaments

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. kind of parasitic vine (philodendron?)

Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. Vila kava

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. black kava (stems are black color)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. two day’ kava (i.e., one stays intoxicated for two days) (English "two days")

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. tree, growing in disturbed forest/garden area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3105)

Example: People eat the young leaves, boiling them in water until they are soft and ready to eat. Or, the green leaves are edible when raw, put coconut flesh and salt in the leaf and eat.

Scientific name: Ficus wassa, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi

n. 1. leaf, foliage 2. sheet, leaf (of paper)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5076)

Example: Leaves used in cooking to flavor soup. To cure sore known as "yaush" that is the size of a 50 vatu coin or larger, take 2-3 branches, collect leaves, put in pot, and warm. Wash the sore 3x day wash for 1-2 weeks. This disease is caused by flies and mosquitos. Yaush is the English name. Mosquito or fly bites the person, passes worm similar to filariasis, then a boil erupts and scratch it becomes big sore. Dry leaves and flowers, put in tin, and light it up to keep mosquitoes away. The smoke from this burning plant chases away mosquitoes like a coil.

Scientific name: Ocimum, Speaker: Johnson Noar

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. Tahitian chestnut

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. Pisonia umbrellifera tree, very soft wood, big trunk and branches, has black stinging seed pods

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. dry banane leaf (used to roll tobacco)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

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

Speaker: Martial Wahe

bamboo (used to refer to several introduced species)

(Bislama) pampu

Scientific name: Bislama, Speaker: Martial Wahe

[riŋ] 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: Jean Pascal Wahe

kind of orchid

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5040)

Example: Fruits edible. People drinking kava eat a fruit after drinking. Say that it makes kava stronger. Boil leaves with Euodia (MJB 5031) when a person has a strong cough to cure it. Double handful of each plant in 1 liter water and boil for 20 minutes. Wash your with it and drink 1 cup in evening (cold) for 4 days.

Scientific name: Annona muricata, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. kind of kava with small trunk and long roots, a special kava used in custom ceremony

Speaker: Martial Wahe

Fiji taro

Speaker: Martial Wahe

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

Scientific name: Heliconia, Speaker: Johnson Noar

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5023)

Example: The wood can be used to make poled for cattle fences. Fruits are sweet and edible. They are also very juicy, and can satisfy thirst. Take bark off of the tree and scrape the green inner bark of tree off. Cover a boil with these pieces to reduce the size and help it heal. Apply once a day for three days.

Scientific name: Pipturus argenteus, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5152)

Example: Leaf used to cover boils on skin. Mash leaf slightly and cover bol. Leaf pulls out liquid from boil. Use this for 3 days, changing the leaf 2x daily. Young plants (branch) for toothache to reduce pain. Boil in water and wash painful area. Use as needed until pain subsides. Also can collect insects in dried stems and use these to feed chickens. (Hymenoptera).

Scientific name: Homalanthus nutans, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[te:raŋ] n. shrub re-growing from fallen tree, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3003)

Example: Medicine: This plant is used to relieve itchiness. Green leaves are rubbed on an area to reduce the sensation.

Scientific name: Homalanthus nutans, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. bamboo (native species)

Speaker: Martial Wahe

[trajmijen] 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: Jean Pascal 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

[twitwi] n. shrub, 2-3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3085)

Example: The leaves of this plant are used to cover the hot stone ovens when cooking lap-lap. The ripe fruit is used to burn as a lap. Take the seeds, impale on the fiber in the middle of a coconut leaf pinnae and light, holding the slender stick and lighting a person’s way.

Scientific name: Ricinus communis, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5122)

Example: Peel stem and chop pieces of stem and pieces of stem of Pipturus argenteus (MB 5121), 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: Nothocnide repanda, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. plant with white trumpet-shaped flowers, nightshade?

(Bislama) tƗmpúa

Scientific name: Bislama, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. orange or lemon thorn

Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. herb, 40-60 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3252)

Example: Introduced species, no use known.

Scientific name: Commelina benghalensis, 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