Nafe (Kwamera)

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5078)

Example: To treat indigestion, take 5 roots from 5 different plants, clean, grate into 600mL bottle of water. Drink one bottle twice daily. In Tanna, people use this plant to make rain, thunder, or to stop the rain. To make rain, take a big pile of this plant’s leaves, tie them in a bundle with a rope, and put into the sea. When the leaves start rotting, usually after one week, the rain will come.

Scientific name: Zingiber zerumbet, Speaker: Johnson Noar

[neri] 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: Jean Pascal Wahe

n. herb to 2-3 m tall in secondary forest clearing, flowers white with yellow-red corolla. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4724)

Example: this plant is used to make the head lei, Kuanari, to welcome visitors. It is also used as an ornamental around local houses.

Scientific name: Alpinia speciosa, Speaker: Martial Wahe

n. type of flowering plant (collection: Michael J. Balick #5037)

Example: Kastom medicine for male impotence (big bamboo = (Nare) penis). Take six 3 in. pieces of the young inflorescence before it opens, chop it and mix with a double handful of leaves from 5047 (Alternanthera brasiliana) add water (1 liter) and squeeze in cup. Patient drinks 2 bottles/day for 1 week, avoid alcohol--whisky, rum, no kava, no tobacco. Stay away from wife or partner. 1 week passes with this treatment, man is much more potent.

Scientific name: Etlingera elatior, Speaker: Johnson Noar

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

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

Scientific name: Alpinia, 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. 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. herbs, 1.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3229)

Example: When performing the kastom ceremony "toka dance" the leaves are wrapped in a band and tied on the head of dancers.

Scientific name: Alpinia, Speaker: Emmanuel Maasi