[Mihalic] Additions

[John Wagner]

Bryant, John et al.,

When I was working at Kamu Yali (Lababia) in Morobe
Province there was a tree growing in their most
fertile gardening area - the Bitoi River Delta - that
they referred to as "diwai daka". Known in their own
tok ples as "e'tataran" meaning simply "green tree".
It is now the most abundant of the species that sprout
up during fallow periods - it was not known though, or
was not common, one generation ago. It grows to a
height of no more than 20 feet, quite often in very
thick stands. Except for the fact that it is not a
"shrub" (at least as I understand that term) it seems
to correspond perfectly with your description below.
I'm wondering if "diwai daka" is a term used quite
differently in different regions of the country? It
would seem that at Kamu Yali "daka" is being used as
an equivalent term to "grinpela". Thus diwai daka =
e'tataran = green tree?

When I took a leave sample of this tree to someone
working at the Lae Botanical Gardens they were unable
to identify the species name ...

John Wagner


--- Bryant Allen <bja406 at coombs.anu.edu.au> wrote:
> John,
> Last 50 edits includes daka. Do we have "diwai daka"
>  as part of that 
> entry. If not:
> 
> diwai daka - Piper aduncum, Piper is a shrub
> indigenous to tropical America 
> that was introduced into Papua New Guinea in the
> 1930s. It was first 
> observed botanically at Finschhafen. Piper has
> invaded aggressively in the 
> lowlands of Morobe, Madang, East Sepik and parts of
> Central Provinces where 
> it forms locally monospecific stands. Opinions vary
> over its usefulness. 
> Its invasion of secondary forests can be
> degenerative, but villagers favour 
> piper over grasses on short fallows because it can
> be easily cut, can be 
> used as firewood and it is said to improve soil
> fertility and drainage.
> 
> Dr Bryant Allen
> Senior Fellow
> Department of Human Geography
> Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
> The Australian National University ACT 0200
> Australia.
> 
> Tel: +61-2-61252234; Fax: +61-2-61254896
> 
> http://rspas.anu.edu.au/humgeog/
> 
> ANU CRICOS Provider Number: 00120C
> 
> 
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