Cyrtosperma chamissonis (Schott) Merr.

• Region

  Oceania

• Country

  Palau

• State/Province

  Airai

• Locality

  Ngeruluobel. Obakradebkar's Summer house

• Coordinates

  7.36835, 134.517

• Distribution

  Map all specimens of this taxon

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
00206543
BOTANICAL
O-ARDH**
IMAGED
HEPORT ANY FEiDENTFiCATOi OF THIS VOUCHEP
to the institute of ecomcmc botamy, m
New York Botanical Garden
Institute of Economic Botany
Plants and People of Palau
Araceae
Cyrtosperma chamissonis (Schott) Merr.
det. Ann Kitalong, 2007
Republic of Palau, Airai State, Obakradebkar’s
Summer house, Ngeruluobel.
N 07°22.101 E 134°31.012
N.V. Brak [Palauan]
Agroforest.
Herb to 2m, (spec white..?) bract yellow-brown.
Use:
Food - Called “kail ra klisiich”, “diesel”, food for
strength. Good to eat before rowing long distances;
also known as ‘war’ food. An adopted term from the
heavy fuel used for heavy cars. It is a heavy “diesel”
food. You can bring it with you to the Rock Islands,
or when stranded and its feeds you for a long period.
When ground together with coconut (Cocos nucifera
L.) and sugar it is called Telledou. Telledou is also
eaten with soup or the fat of pigs, improving their
texture, making it easier to swallow. (CK)
Materials - Women use the leaves as a hat for rainy
days or to shade heat from the sun. (CK)
Toys - The stem can be carved and leaves can be used
as a sail to make a toy canoe that can be run along
streams. (CK)
Comments:
One root will fill three baskets. Iars is another variety.
20 years ago there were several names.
# 4440 Michael Balick, Ya^ana Desmond, Ann Kitalong,
Roberta Lee, Nicholas Penna.
Additional interview: (August 7,2007) Obakradebkar Clarence
Kitalong (CK) (Additional interviewers Kiblas Soaladaob,
Christopher Kitalong)
August 2,2007
A research collaboration of the Belau National Museum and The
New York Botanical Garden Institute of Economic Botany.
Fieldwork funded by The V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation.
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00206543