Methodology
This study combines Field Linguistics and Language Documentation methods. The team conducted field work, together with a local consultant, Mr Benediktus Delpada, to collect original and ‘first-hand’ data, documented plant species (English and Abui plant names and the scientific name). Besides looking at the medicinal properties and cultural relevance (from the perspective of the Abui people), the team also explored local myths and legends connected with the plants.
Thereafter, the team organised the data in a database which is reflected below.
| Please note that all Abui plant names, reported medical usages of plants and any associated legends or myths recorded below are the intellectual property of the Abui people. |
Collection
Cussambium / Kalang
| English Plant Name: | Cussambium |
| Abui Plant Name: | Kalang |
| Scientific Name: | Schleichera oleosa |
| Etymological Reconstruction: | TBC |
When someone has stomachache, he/ she may burn a piece of cussambium bark or a small stump of cussambium tree, pour its remains into a cup of cold water, and drink the mixture.
People prefer the firewood of the cussambium tree for cooking. They may also sell the wood to earn a profit.Locals may chew a piece of a cussambium bark or the outer skin of cussambium nut in place of the betel nut.The stick of a cussambium tree can be used to produce a pestle to pound rice or corn.The juice of ripe nuts of a cussambium tree tastes sweet which people can eat. After chewing cussambium nuts, young boys may place the hard seeds on their ears as ‘earings’.It is told that in the past, cussmabium tree and corn were mostly found the place/field/area which is presently the main town/capital city of Alor regency.People may feed their goats with cussambium leaf.
| Remarks:
Tentative |