Plant Names of Bikini — St. John AND MASON 
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dance, more so than elsewhere in the Mar- 
shalls. The wood is used for making the 
block on which Pandanus or Cocos fiber hats 
are plaited, for the hull, bow and stern 
pieces, and interior hull braces of a canoe, 
and for paddles. Recently it has been used 
for many tourist souvenirs, such as out- 
rigger canoe models, bowls, cups, and 
clogs. 
Messerschmtdia argentea (L. f.) I. M. Johnston. 
”Kiren.” A tree which, if large, is used for 
canoe hulls, if small, for the curving booms 
of the outrigger. The bark is useful. First 
the dry outer bark is scraped off and re- 
moved, then the inner bark is scraped, 
making wet shavings that are good for 
placing on a cut. The young leaves are 
pounded to obtain a juice which is good 
to drink for a stomach-ache or for any 
general ache in the body. The seeds are 
pounded to obtain a juice which is applied 
to gum boils or canker sores in children’s 
mouths; it is also good for treatment of 
diarrhea. 
Guettarda speciosa L. '’Wut.” A tree, the wood 
of which is useful for house frames, house 
posts, outrigger booms, and the diagonal 
braces between the outrigger and the canoe 
hull. When large, it is also used for canoe 
hulls. The leaves are medicinal. 
Morinda citri folia L. "Nen.” A tree, the wood 
of which is used for the framework of a 
house. The leaf, root, and fruit are strongly 
medicinal. The seeds are pulverized and the 
pulp applied to any tooth which is causing 
pain. The root is scraped, then the scrap- 
ings, together with young coconut husk, 
are boiled to make a light-brown dye for 
handicraft fibers, such as Triumfetta, Hibis- 
cus, and young coconut leaf, but not for 
Pandanus. 
Scaevola frutescens (Mill.) Krause. "Konnat.” 
A shrub or small tree, the wood of which 
is used for the curving booms of the out- 
rigger; also for the roof frame of a house. 
The leaf is used to make a bitter drink 
which is given to a pregnant woman just 
before and just after childbirth (''to clean 
up the belly inside”) ; it is also used to wash 
the mother’s body. 
Mason also obtained notes on other species 
not collected on the excursion but known to 
be common to Kili and Bikini. Since they are 
known by the same vernacular names on the 
other Marshall Islands, it is possible to iden- 
tify them with surety. These are: 
Artocarpus incisus L. f. "Ma.” Two varieties 
exist: "betaktok,” the fruits of which are 
large and seedless and make excellent food; 
and "mejwan,” the fruits of which are seed- 
bearing. 
Hernandia ovigera L. ’'Bing bing.” A tree, used 
for canoe hulls. 
The three Bikinian informants also told of 
eight other plants characteristic of Bikini but 
not occurring on Kili. For each they furnished 
the vernacular name and a description. By use 
of these we have identified six of them. They 
are: 
Portulaca samoensis v. Poelln. "Bujang.” ''A 
low bush.” In Taylor’s book this is listed 
as P. quadrifida L., the valid name of an 
African species, but we consider it a mis- 
identification of the Pacific species. 
Cassytha frliformis\^. "Kanon.” "A leafless vine 
which kills the trees on which it grows.” 
Sophora tomentosa L. "Kille.” "A tall tree, 
about 15 to 20 feet high.” 
Suriana maritima L. "Kalange.” ''Somewhat 
like 'konge’ {Pemphis acidula) but smaller.” 
Euphorbia Atoto Forst. f. "Berrol.” "A low 
bush, with small leaves, which when cut 
exudes a milky juice.” Taylor (1950: 3) 
stated that members of the Euphorbiaceae 
do not occur on Bikini or the northern 
Marshalls, but this species and three other 
members of the family are now known to 
occur on Eniwetok, so this report is credible. 
Sida fallax Walp. "Kio.” ''A bush with a 
yellow flower.” 
Of the list of eight species named and de- 
scribed, there remain two which we have not 
identified: 
