List of plant words

Thomas H. Slone THSlone at usa.net
Wed Oct 3 23:09:58 EST 2001


Here are some Tok Pisin plant words that revise and add to the 
Mihalic dictionary.  Expect a list of animal names from me before 
long.

I have not relied on the lists by Christin Kocher Schmid whose Web 
site was posted earlier.  Some of them seem unusually specific.  Are 
all of these really Tok Pisin words or just local words used in a Tok 
Pisin context?  Maybe we should try to contact Schmid for an 
explanation of how the lists were developed.

Tok Pisin plant words:

aiai, laulau (N.I.): trees that bears small, red edible fruits 
(Syzygium jambos [rose apple], S. malaccense [Malay apple], and 
probably Eugenia spp.) (May, 1984: 76-77; Verheij and Coronel, 1991: 
292-294). The trees are also used for medicine, magic, axes, digging 
sticks, construction, and cooking (Powell, 1976: 138, 143-145, 149, 
153, 164-169).

aibika: two plants (sunset hibiscus or Abelmoschus manihot, and 
Chinese amaranth or Amaranthus tricolor [a.k.a. aupa]) with edible 
leaves (Mihalic, 1971: 58, 62; May, 1984: 56-57; Rehm & Espig, 1991: 
139, 159; Siemonsma & Piluek, 1993: 82). A. manihot is also used 
medicinally (Woodley, 1991: 89-90).

aila: the Polynesian chestnut (Inocarpus fagifer); the tree has 
edible nuts (May, 1984: 70)

aran, arang, marita: a palm tree with pulpy fruits that usually have 
red flesh (Pandanus conoideus). It grows up to 2300 meters (Powell, 
1976: 132).
aupa: Chinese amaranth or Amaranthus tricolor  (Mihalic, 1971: 58, 
62; May, 1984: 56-57; Rehm & Espig, 1991: 139, 159; Siemonsma & 
Piluek, 1993: 82)

asbin, hasbin: the winged bean, a high-protein bean that is grown in 
the Highlands (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus). Most of the plant is 
edible (Powell, 1976: 116-117; Twohig, 1986: 73; May, 1984: 50).

baibai: cycad (Cycas circinalis); sometimes used as famine food 
because it contains toxins that must be leached out (May, 1984: 55)

bukbuk (Gaz.): a timber tree with edible fruits found in Milne Bay 
Province and the Gazelle Peninsula (Burckella obovata) (May, 1984: 77)

burua: wild mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera); the leaves are 
sometimes eaten, the inner bark is used to make tapa cloth (May, 
1984: 61)

fikus, pikus: Ficus spp. (e.g., banyan, fig and rubber trees)

galip: any of the following trees that produce small edible nuts: 
Canarium indicum (Tahitian chestnut), Terminalia kaernbachii or T. 
okari (a.k.a. okari, ), or T. impediens (Mihalic, 1971: 86; Verheij & 
Coronel, 1991: 301-302, 322).  C. indicum is used medicinally 
(Powell, 1976: 137).

gorgor: galangal, a ginger relative, (Alpinia spp.) is also used for 
wrapping and for counting days (Mihalic, 1971: 89; Rehm & Espig, 
1991: 302).

kalapua: kind of small banana from the Markham Valley (Morobe 
Province) [is this a Tok Pisin word, or just a tok ples word that was 
used in Tok Pisin?]

kalopilum: a hardwood tree (Callophyllum spp.) (Soerianegara & 
Lemmens, 1993: 114-132). Callophyllum is used for spear- and 
canoe-making (Powell, 1976: 152, 158).

kambang, sel kambang: 1) edible gourds (bottle gourd or Lagenaria 
siceraria [Rehm & Espig, 1991: 148; Siemonsma & Piluek, 1993: 
190-191], snake gourd or Trichosanthes cucumerina, and T. ovigera 
[May, 1984: 64; Rehm & Espig, 1991: 149]). They are used 
traditionally in some parts of New Guinea for covering the penis 
(mostly the western Highlands of PNG and the Highlands of Irian 
Jaya). In some cultures, this was virtually the only clothing that a 
man wore. The gourd also has many other uses; it is edible when 
young, and it is often used as a container (Eastburn, 1989, Siemonsma 
& Piluek, 1993: 190-191). 2) lime (calcium oxide) (as per Mihalic)

kangkung: water sweet potato (Ipomoea aquatica) (May, 1984: 57)

kapiak: the breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis).  It has a bland, 
starchy fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is found in many 
parts of Micronesia and Polynesia. The fruit is approximately the 
size of a head and is sometimes symbolically associated with the head 
in folktales. Parts of the breadfruit tree are also used for medicine 
and magic (Powell, 1976: 144, 148).

karakap: black nightshade (Solanum nodiflorum); the leaves and 
berries of this plant are sometimes eaten (May, 1984: 60)

karapa: Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) (May, 1984: 82)

kares: cress, leaf mustard (Rorippa spp.); the plant has edible 
leaves (also kari) (May, 1984: 61)

kari: 1) curry (Mihalic) 2) ginger (Zingiber spp.) (May, 1984: 51) 3) 
cress, leaf mustard (Rorippa spp.) (May, 1984: 61) (synonym of kares)

kaukau: The sweet potato, an important staple food crop in the 
Highlands (Ipomoea batata), often grown in raised mounds to encourage 
water drainage (May, 1984: 46). It is a relatively recent 
introduction (400-1600 A. D. [Olivier, 1989: 98]), hence it is 
responsible for population expansion into previously unpopulated or 
sparsely populated areas of the Highlands. Sweet potatoes are grown 
primarily in the Highlands and also in the mountainous areas of New 
Ireland and Bougainville islands (Vasey, 1985: 50-51). Young leaves 
are also eaten (May, 1984: 58).

kawawar:  (Zingiber oficinale) is ordinary ginger (Mihalic, 1971: 89; 
Rehm & Espig, 1991: 302).  Ginger is used for food, medicine 
(Woodley, 1991: 135-136; Powell, 1976: 136-45) and magic (Powell, 
1976: 148-149).

kawiwi: a nut from the palm tree that is chewed in place of betel 
nut.  This is Howea belmoreana according to Mihalic (1971: 108). H. 
belmoreana is not indigenous to New Guinea however, so perhaps kawiwi 
actually refers to Areca macrocalyx, which is cultivated (Essig, 
1977: 24).

kombi: wild figs (Ficus spp.) (May, 1984: p.74)

kukamba: cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (May, 1984: p.64)

kumu mosong: edible fig leaves (Ficus spp.) (May, 1984: 59)

kunai: sword grass, a tough, tall grass (Miscanthus floridulus) that 
grows in burned-over, infertile areas (Figure 19). It grows with 
Imperata arundinacea in the Highlands (Paijmans, 1976: 92).

malo: 1) bark skirt, loin cloth (synonym of mal) (example: "Nau wan 
wan ol i kamdaun na ol i pasim ol purpur na malo bilong ol, na ol i 
ranawe i go long haus bilong ol."  Now each of them descended, put on 
their grass skirts and loin cloths, then fled to their houses.) 2) 
kin of fig tree (Murphy, 1985: 89)

mami: the lesser yam (Dioscorea  esculenta). The yam is frequently 
associated with religious activities in PNG, especially mami which is 
grown for length (May, 1984: 48-49). Parts of the yam are used for 
medicine and magic (Powell, 1976: 140, 143, 148; Flach & Rumawas, 
1996: 89, 92, 94).

mangas: a tree (Hibiscus tileaceus) used for cigarette paper, rope 
making (Mihalic, 1971: 129), medicine, house posts, and weaving 
(Powell, 1976: 136, 138-139, 143-144, 163, 169). It is found along 
sandy shores and tidal creeks (Sosef, et al., 1998: 291).

mangro: 1) the mangrove tree (Bruguiera spp.); some parts of the tree 
are sometimes eaten (May, 1984: 74) 2) a mangrove swamp (Mihalic)

mukmuk: 1) roasted sago (Mihalic) 2) "a mottled black and white 
stone, round and flat, about the size of a saucer or smaller with a 
sharpened perimeter and pierce through the centre.  The larger ones 
are the badge or mark of rank amongst the natives of south-west New 
Britain.  The smaller ones were used as currency." Murphy (1985: 91)

okari, : the Indian almond or the Java almond (Terminalia kaernbachii 
and T. okari); a tree with edible nuts. Parts of the tree are also 
used medicinally. It is typically a coastal tree (Womersley, 1978: 
72; Woodley, 1991: 33-34; Rehm & Espig, 1991: 242).

palpal, balbal (Gaz): a quick-growing, soft-wooded tree used for 
fences (Erythrina variegata), canoes (Powell, 1976: 158), medicine 
(Woodley, 1991: 83-84), spears, shields, and perfume (Hanum & van der 
Maesen, 1997: 130).The tree grows in coastal areas and in cultivated 
areas at up to 1200 meters elevation (Hanum & van der Maesen, 1997: 
130-132). The leaves were traditionally eaten with human flesh in 
parts of the Sepik and Madang provinces (May, 1984: 59, 88).

pitpit: one of two edible grasses (Setaria palmifolia or Saccharum 
edule) (May, 1984: 62, 82)

pitpit moi: a grass grown in the Highlands (Setaria palmaefolia) 
(Powell, 1976: 130-131).

pota: trees with edible fruits (Garcinia spp.) related to the 
mangosteen (G. mangostana) (May, 1984: 77)

purpur: 1. a shrub (Codiaeum variegatum) used for personal adornment, 
medicine and magic (Powell, 1976: 137, 142, 145, 147-148, 172) 2. a 
fibrous skirt made of sago palm leaves or special kinds of reeds. It 
is called a "grass" skirt in English but it is not made of grass.

sako: choko (Sechium edule); the plant has an edible fruit (May, 1984: 65)

salamon: 1) ceremonial rattles (Mihalic) 2) a large tree (Pangium 
edule) that produces edible seeds after the toxins have been leached 
(May, 1984: 71)

salat: various plants used as counter-irritants and for 
revivification: 1) stinging nettle (Dendrocnidae spp.) 2) the "poison 
oak" tree (Semecarpus cassuvium). The sap of S. cassuvium is 
poisonous, although the swollen pedicel is eaten as a fruit and the 
young leaves can be eaten raw (Verheij & Coronel, 1991: 359).

spak brus: marijuana (Cannabis sativa)

taun: 1) town (Mihalic) 2) a tree with edible fruit (Pometia pinnata) 
(May, 1984: 77)

taro, taro tru: taro (Colocasia esculenta) grows at up to 2700 meters 
elevation (Flach & Rumawas, 1996: 70). C. esculenta is also used 
medicinally and for magic (Powell, 1976: 137, 143-145, 148)

taro bilong tais: swamp taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii) (May, 1984: 46; 
Flach & Rumawas, 1996: 82-84)

taro kongkong, taro singapo: "Hong Kong" taro, "Singapore" taro 
(Xanthosoma sagittifolium)  (Flach & Rumawas, 1996: 163). Both corms 
and leaves are eaten.

tulip: a kind of tree with paired, edible leaves, seeds and fruit 
(joint fir, Gnetum gnemon), unrelated to the tulip flower (Verheij & 
Coronel, 1991: 182-184; Rehm & Espig, 1991: 240). The flowers and 
fruits can also be eaten (May, 1984: 58).

wel gris: tree oil (or tigaso oil) is derived from Campnosperma spp. 
tree wood (Mihalic, 1971: 204). The oil is used as a body adornment, 
as a medicine, and in cooking (Powell, 1976: 174).

wel limbum: The fishtail palm tree (Caryota rumphiana and/or C. mitis 
in PNG [Flach & Rumawas, 1996: 66]) is used for bows and floors in 
PNG (Powell, 1976: 152, 162; Brown, 1986: 26).

wel taro: wild taro (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, a.k.a. A. 
campanulatus) is neither truly wild nor truly taro since it is 
sometimes grown domestically and is not closely related to true taro. 
Both corms and leaves are eaten.  It is common in grassland areas of 
Madang, Morobe and Oro provinces, but it is also found in the 
Highlands (Powell, 1976: 144; Twohig, 1986: 65; Flach & Rumawas, 
1996: 48). Wild taro is also used medicinally (Powell, 1976: 144).

wailsaksak, wel saksak: Parts of the nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) are 
used for food and houses (Powell, 1976: 111, 163). The nipa palm 
thrives only in brackish water but it is rarely seen at seashores, so 
it is mainly seen in the estuarine tidal floodplains of rivers (Flach 
& Rumawas, 1996: 135).

yam: 1) the greater yam (Dioscorea alata) 2) less common species of 
yams (sand yam or D. pentaphylla, D. nummularia, and aerial yam or D. 
bulbifera) (Rehm & Espig, 1991: 50-51). The yam is frequently 
associated with religious activities in PNG, especially mami which is 
grown for length (May, 1984: 48-49). Parts of the yam are used for 
medicine and magic (Powell, 1976: 140, 143, 148; Flach & Rumawas, 
1996: 89, 92, 94).

yar: 1) Pleiades (as per Mihalic) 2) casuarina, a tree found in 
Australia and New Guinea (Casuarina spp.) (Hanum & van der Maesen, 
1997: 86-89). The inner bark of C. equistifolia is used medicinally 
(Woodley, 1991: 31-32).Casuarina is used for magic, arrowheads and 
digging sticks (Powell, 1976: 148, 152).

References:

Brown, H[erbert] A. (1986). A Comparative Dictionary of Orokolo, Gulf 
of Papua. Canberra: Australian National University. Pacific 
Linguistics Series C, No. 84.

Eastburn, David (1989). Sel kambang. In: Paradise Faces: A Selection 
of Stories from Air Niugini's In-Flight Magazines. McLaughlin, Geoff, 
ed. Port Moresby: Geoff McLaughlin, pp. 46-48.

Essig, Frederick B. (1977). The Palm Flora of New Guinea: A 
Preliminary Analysis. Lae: Office of Forests, Division of Botany. 
Papua New Guinea Botany Bulletin #9.

Flach, M. & Rumawas, F., eds. (1996). Plant Resources of South-East 
Asia: Plants Yielding Non-seed Carbohydrates. Wageningen, 
Netherlands: Pudoc. Prosea Volume 9.

Hanum, I. Faridah & van der Maesen, L. J. G., eds. (1997). Plant 
Resources of South-East Asia: Timber Trees: Auxiliary Plants. Leiden, 
Netherlands: Backhuys. Prosea Volume 11.

May, Ronald James (1984). Kaikai Aniani: A Guide to Bush Foods, 
Markets and Culinary Arts of Papua New Guinea. Bathurst, New South 
Wales: Robert Brown.

Murphy, John J. (1985). The Book of Pidgin English. Revised Edition. 
Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia: Robert Brown.

Oliver, Douglas  (1989). Oceania: The Native Cultures of Australia 
and the Pacific Islands. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2 
volumes.

Paijmans, K. (1976). Vegetation. In: New Guinea Vegetation, K. 
Paijmans, ed., New York: Elsevier Scientific, pp. 106-183.

Powell, J. M. (1976). "Ethnobotany." In: New Guinea Vegetation, K. 
Paijmans, ed., New York: Elsevier Scientific, pp. 106-183.

Rehm, Sigmund & Espig, Gustav (1991). The Cultivated Plants of the 
Tropics and Subtropics. Weikersheim, Germany: Verlag Josef Margraf.

Siemonsma, J. S. & Piluek, Kasem, eds. (1993). Plant Resources of 
South-East Asia: Vegetables. Wageningen, Netherlands: Pudoc. Prosea 
Volume 8.

Soerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R. H. M. J., eds. (1993). Plant Resources 
of South-East Asia: Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. 
Wageningen, Netherlands: Pudoc. Prosea Volume 5(1).

Sosef, M. S. M., Hong, L. T. & Prawirohatmodjo, S., eds. (1998). 
Plant Resources of South-East Asia: Timber Trees:Lesser-Known 
Timbers. Leiden, Netherlands: Backhuys. Prosea Volume 5(3).

Twohig, Amanda, ed. (1986). Liklik Buk: A Sourcebook for Development 
Workers in Papua New Guinea. Lae: Liklik Buk Information Centre, 2nd 
edition.

Vasey, D. (1982). "Subsistence crop systems." In: Papua New Guinea 
Atlas: A Nation in Transition, David King and Stephen Ranck, eds. 
Bathurst, Australia: Robert Brown, pp. 50-51.

Verheij, E. W. M. & Coronel, R. E., eds. (1991). Plant Resources of 
South-East Asia: Edible Fruits and Nuts. Wageningen, Netherlands: 
Pudoc. Prosea Volume 2.

Womersley, John S. (1978). Handbooks of the Flora of Papua New 
Guinea. Melbourne, Australia: Melbourne University Press, Volume 1

Woodley, Ellen, ed. (1991). Medicinal Plants of Papua New Guinea. 
Part 1: Morobe Province. Weikersheim, Germany: Verlag Josef 
Margraf/Wau, Papua New Guinea: Wau Ecology Institute.

-- 
Tom Slone
THSlone at usa.net
tom at potency.berkeley.edu
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