Nafe (Kwamera)

[kawəwə] n. sparsely branched tree, 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3044)

Example: Ceremonial: During a large kastom ceremony ("Nakwyari"), a branch of this plant is used to sweep the nakamal before the toka dance.

Scientific name: Meryta neo-ebudica, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

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: Johnson Noar

n. sparsely branched tree, 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3044)

Example: Ceremonial: During a large kastom ceremony ("Nakwyari"), a branch of this plant is used to sweep the nakamal before the toka dance.

Scientific name: Meryta neo-ebudica, 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

[marəs marəs] n. understory tree, 3-4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3133)

Example: People toss sticks made from the stem of this plant at flying fox to tear their wing so they can’t fly and are caught.

Scientific name: Schefflera neoebudica, Speaker: Jean Pascal Wahe

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

Example: Photo by Martial Wahe

Scientific name: Polycias stecullaria, Speaker: Martial 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

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5156)

Example: This is female type. MJB 5068 is male type. When person has diarrhea with blood (dysentry) take a double handful of leaves and mash them in 2 liter water, boil, drink warm 1 cup 3x day until the condition goes away. Stem used for roofing- attac hes to the rafters so thatching and leaves can be attached.

Scientific name: Polyscias schmidii, Speaker: Johnson Noar

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

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5102)

Example: Cook young leaves in water for 5 min and then eat.

Scientific name: Polyscias fruticosa, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. understory tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4208)

Scientific name: Schefflera neoebudica, Speaker: Martial Wahe