This may be the same shrub—by proving attractive to mosquitoes it was fairly reasonable to expect that the native houses (bure) would be proportionately free from these pests of the night. is known as the “canary whistle,” it gets the same generic name varavara from the natives here, that they give to species of Spathoglottis and Calanthe. A white tubular flower seated in a four-sepaled calyx-cup. The Fijians use the sap to dye their hair red or orange. Among other things they make use of various leaves—the tavotavo, the soni, and the meme-vudinayalewakalou. It is a large tree, mostly found near the sea. This variety of breadfruit is large and seedless, with a smooth surface; the leaves have a peculiar appearance as if covered with small blisters. It is similar to the lily that is so common in the East Indies and the Archipelago. Different clubs were for different fighting scenarios. The Fijians make frequent use of stems and leaves and it is said to have been the only medicine of any value as a cure for that dreadful scourge—the lila—a century and more ago, as is indicated in an old meke (song). Fruits globose. Printer Suva. Joni is the Fijian rendering of "John". Polynesian and Melanesian usage of the name came about with the introduction of the bible by white missionaries during the 1700's and 1800's. Very similar to the tarawau—but the fruit is said to be the favourite food of a small native parrot—hence its distinctive name in the vernacular, as kaka means parrot. The flowers are red, on long pedicles. From Namara. Wood very hard, heavy and close-grained. Bread-fruit and its various kinds. A Somosomo variety, and quite seedless. Asa Grey classified it as Clerodondron ovalifolia. At first it was only used by men. Much valued as a timber-tree, especially by the Fijians for making lalis, a species of drum, still in use in many places, as a call to Christian worship, or to send messages to a distance the sound of a lali when beaten was to be heard for miles. Timber hard, heavy and very brittle. This tree, called vuga in Viti Levu, is conspicuous for its scarlet flowers. Often known in the Pacific as the kava or avaava. Varas are very nice fried with nut, or other butter; after being cut in thin slices make a good mock bacon with fried egg. No. This species grows wild in woods, and is often used for hedges and attains the height of from twelve to fourteen feet. Often met with in mixed forest. They say a drink made of the leaves of the wakiwaki together with as equal number of leaves of the evu will cause sterility. A medicine according to the Kai Viti. Also known as Sauninini. It is quite probable that this plant has been introduced, as the name seems extremely like our “tobacco.” Seemann thought it might have been brought by the Manila men, since Spaniards were the first whites who visited these islands. The Fijian name vago in indiscriminately used for calabashes, on account of their being bottles for coconut-oil. Stamens ten, drupes are black and shining. The wood is tough, tree about 40 feet. It is sometimes called masawe, and at other qui. Female names Alitia Meaning noble kind. These leaves of these plants are more or less looked upon as able to work a charm on the fish. Pritchard gave parau-teruore as the Tahitian name—the fibre could be used for cordage. In the earlier days it was cut ruthlessly. Also called alu, waloa and toga. Other common species include the Mallotus tiliifolous, a small deciduous tree with hairy leaves and spiny fruit and the Indian-beech with its aromatic flowers and medicinal bark and roots. It is known also as the Hedysarum umbellatum (Linn). A slender shrub. This plant is used medicinally by the Fijians. Called also drainisiga, which see. 10. A flowering vine mostly found near the sea. The drupe is two-celled and green in colour. Usually a small tree with plentiful white flowers in corymbs. Another name for tubua; also vuka and wavuwavu, which see. Also called by Fijians yevuyevu and evuevu. While most lianas eventually smother the host plant, tagimaucia only uses it for support and does not harm the host plant. A list of Fijian plant names / by C. Harold Wright Govt. Echinochloa stagnina (Poaceae) Panicum stagninumRetz. This also is a medicinal tree, about 50 feet high when fully grown. âA few things I have come to learn includes landscaping and plant multiplication methods as well as learn plant and flower names that I have not heard of before.â Mrs Cuvatoka thanked the Ministry for the initiative to enlighten women of Rewa on the importance of plants. It is never seen crusted with lichens or moss, nor even ferns, whereas most forest trees are the genial hosts of innumerable cryptograminous growths and ferns, oberons, taeniophyllums, aspleniums, etc. Flowers have four petals; the leaves in sets of three—one set egg-shaped and long, the next serrated, or lobed. This is a climbing bush with rather membranaceous leaves and panicles of flowers with white sepals. Conspicuous scarlet flowers according to Sykes; rose-pink as found in Bua Province. Same as vuturakaraka. The leaves are about five inches broad, opposite and with pointed apices. Probably this creeping vine is the same as the wasovivi and the wabici. This spelling is hardly correct, as p is scarcely used in Fijian. Most probably has been introduced from other islands. Sandalwood. No. Printer Suva 1918. Hibiscus (Paritium) tricuspus (Malvaceae), Samanea saman (Leguminoseae) or (Pithecolobium saman), Barringtonia edulis Sub-order Lecithydaceae (Myrtaceae), Dianella ensifolia (Liliaceae) E. B. H. Brown calls it D. intermedia, Spathaglottis pacifica and Linpodorum unquieculatum (Orchidaceae), Angiosperma Monocotyledoneae (Pandanaceae) Pandanus Thurstoni, Polypodium sp. Sometimes called vutuniwai. The leaves of this plant are valued as a very superior kind of laxative. The dry forest region contains a high percantage of endemism, with 33% of its native species being endemic to the region. It grows in marshy places or near water. This is a common basket fern, (called midre when young), also known sometimes as suvi. The common blue rat-tail—now accounted as a plant-pest. This name was evidently adapted from early traders, whose tobacco was appreciated by the Fijians. This tree is sometimes called both tavola and nativi, but as its seeds are inferior, it is more likely that the T. Catappa is the kind used medicinally. A tall tree, leaves smooth and shining in old trees. The seeds are sometimes called Fiji almonds; they are edible, but have not much almond flavour. Large lianes. A list of submitted names in which the usage is Fijian. Uto-dogo-dogo, seedless; uto-dra-cobo, also seedless. The native name for the well-known onion of commerce. Straights of Somosomo. As yaka grows best in rich soil, nts presence speaks well for the ground in which it flourishes. The bulbs are large and the long leaves lanceolate (three to four feet long). Web. The Kai-Viti esteem it, as they think the leaves have properties which will thicken their hair. Request this item to view in the Library's reading rooms using your library card. The roots are long and cylindrical, as thick as a man's arm. They boil these and drink the water, and apply the warm leaves as a poultice. All convolvulus leaves are valued by natives. Has sharply toothed pinnate fronds. Same as wavuti. 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