Abstract
The Mussau Islanders of the Bismarck Archipelago in northeastern Papua New Guinea cultivate 26 indigenous tree species both for food and non-food uses in tree gardens surrounding the villages. Several trees which volunteer in these arboriculture zones are also tended and encouraged. I present ethnobotanical information on methods of cultivation, how and when the trees are harvested, preparation and use. The tree crop zone has a random spatial distribution overall, but some species within the zone are aggregated spatially. This clumping is related to the restricted habitat requirements of certain species, as well as individual species ’ reproductive traits. Coconut is the most frequent species in the arboriculture zone and is randomly distributed. Vertical stratification is attributable to the presence of a distinct herb layer and a subcanopy stratum of maturePandanus spp. The stratification of some species pairs results from the deliberate planting of subcanopy trees next to canopy trees. The introduction of exotic garden species and the increasing availability of western packaged foods is changing the composition of traditional Mussau Islands tree gardens.
Resumen
Los islenos Mussau del archipiélago Bismarck en el noreste de Papuá Nueva Guinea cultivan 26 especies de árboles nativos para alimento y otros usos en los alrededores de los poblados. Algunos árboles que incidentalmente se establecen en estas zonas también son protegidos y cultivados. En este articulo se présenta información etnobotánico sobre métodos de cosecha, y preparaci ón y uso de los árboles. La zona de cosecha de árboles en general tiene una distribuci ón espacial al azar, pero algunas especies est án espacialente agregadas dentro de la zona. Esta agregaci ón esta relacionada tanto a los requerimientos estrictos de habitat como a las caracteristicas reproductivas de determinadas especies. La palma de coco es la especie masfrecuente en la zona del cultivo de árboles y se distribuye al azar. La estratificaci ón vertical se debe a la presencia de una capa caracteristica de hierbas y a un estrato de subdosel dePanadanus spp. maduros. La estratificaci ón de ciertos pares de especies es el resultado de la plantaci ón deliberada de árboles del subdosel, cerca de árboles de dosel. La introducci ón de especies ex óticas de jardin y la generalizada disponibilidad de alimentos occidentales empacados est án modificando la composition de los cultivos de árboles de las islas Mussau.
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Lepofsky, D. Arboriculture in the Mussau Islands, Bismarck Archipelago. Econ Bot 46, 192–211 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02930638
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02930638