Maesa aneiteensis Mez

• Region

  Oceania

• Country

  Vanuatu

• State/Province

  Tafea

• County/Municipio

  Whitesands Tanna Area Council

• Locality

  Tanna Island, Southeast Tanna, Imaki area.

• Elevation

  Alt. 100 m. (328 ft.)

• Coordinates

  -19.6029, 169.463

• Distribution

  Map all specimens of this taxon

The Ethnobotany of Vanuatu
Gregory M. Plunkett #3425
N.V. Namap [Nafe]
stem The stem of this plant is used to tie the ni-
hnem, a grass skirt used to hold penis sheaths in
place.
leaf In the local belief system, this plant is used
by garden magicians known as tupunus. Two or
three petioles of the leaf are chewed and spit to
the wind to chase away volcano ashes.
Source: Sam Natou (m, 55), Sam Nauka (M, 50), Philip Wahe
(M, 60+)
New York Botanical Garden: NY
Vanuatu National Herbarium: PVNH
The Flora of Vanuatu
(Primulaceae)
Maesa aneiteensis Mez
Vanuatu: Tafea Province. Tanna Island. Southeast
Tanna, Imaki area.
S 19° 36’ 10.5"; E 169° 27’ 46.1"; lOOmelev.
Shrub, 1.7 m tall. Flowers greenish, fruits brownish.
Growing in paddock between Imaki village and the
coast. DNA, digital image. Duplicates: 6.
Gregory M. Plunkett, #3425	April 29,2016
Marika Tuiwawa, Jean-Pascal Wahe, Samuel Herwaen
Kemah, Philemon Ala
A collaboration of NYBG and PVNH, funded by The Christensen Fund,
The National Geographic Society, and The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
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03599371