Ethnobotany and Flora

Ethnobotany concerns the plants used by the Nowans and their island compatriots. Nowans have continued to rely upon a large variety of plants for food, textiles, and medicines and this page is dedicated to surveying the most important of these. I am writing this one section at a time, so check back to see as parts are added.
A note about food plants is in order. Nowans do not, as a rule, eat seeds as food. Thus there are no grain plants in the Nowan world which have the importance of wheat, corn, or rice. Their disdain for seeds is at least partly fictive. They do use various seeds as flavorings. A few others, such as nuts and beans are eaten, but Nowans vigorously deny that they are seeds. Indeed, one of the pejorative terms Nowans use for non-Nowans, is Sóptéttinpir, "Seedeaters".

Some generic plant terms;

Food Plants

Vegetables

fí.tt'ó Blackleaf
Blackleaf is small herb with very dark green leaves. The leaves are dried, powdered and used as a flavoring agent.
Distribution: Southern coast.
pté.la Blé Rouge
A grass, related to wheat and rye. Its grainhead and stalk darkens to rusty brown when mature. Widely used as a livestock feed and in the manufacture of beer and distilled spirits. Nowans do not as a rule eat seeds, but blé rouge flour is sometimes made into a bread as a form of iron ration.
Distribution: The central steppe originally, now cultivated widely.
lu.fí.rho Blood Greens
Name derived from the bright red veins on the large green leaves. Usually eaten boiled.
Distribution: Grown everywhere except the Steppes and mountains.
fí.kun.p'a Bread Fern
Large roots are dried, ground and pounded to make a flour for making flat bread.
Distribution: Western slopes of the Herowi.
wet.p'a Bread Squash
Medium sized yellow squash. Nowans bake this whole and slice it in half, scooping out the soft orange flesh.
Distribution: Western slopes of the Herowi.
tte.nu Brown Bean
Usually eaten boiled, both seperately and as an ingredient. Most widely consumed bean in Pan.
Distribution: Southern coast.
k'o.lú.fí Coast Tea Bush
A short shrub whose dark green leaves are boiled to make a widely consumed tea. Very popular.
Along the southern coast, east of the Humm Penninsula.
wet.hong.mó.ge Dwarf Yellow Squash
Small apple sized squash. Usually eaten baked or boiled whole.
Distribution: Originally found along the southern coasts.
má.xhú Eastern Forest Leek
Small green with a large white root/bulb. Primarily grown for the bulb, the greens are also edible.
Distribution: Forests east of the Herowi.
lu.fí.ce Fan Greens
Dark green, leafy vegetable, so named for its huge fan shaped leaves. Most be cooked to destroy its natural astringency. Widely used in many regional cuisines.
Distribution: Originally southern coast and Great Central Valley.
lu.fí.hem Flowering Greens
A small green with distinctive red flowers.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
xu.sho Hair Yam
A large brown tuber, covered with many longish (2-3cm) black hairs. Usually baked or boiled.
Distribution:
pté.vé Muskseed
A small, yellowish grass, whose dried seeds are ground and used a flavoring agent. They have a distinctive musky, pungent flavor.
Distribution: Steppes, grasslands and forest clearings.
xu.pté Nut Yam
A large, round white fleshed root with a distinctively nutty flavor.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
tte.bhú Oil Bean
A small yellowish bean that is exceptionally high in oil content. Grown primarily for cooking oil and for the chemical industry, the left over pulp is fed to livestock.
Distribution: Originally from the Great Central Valley, now widely grown.
xho.ze Pepperpod
A short shrub with many small, fleshy, orange pods. These are similar in flavor to chile peppers although they are not closely related. Perhaps the essential ingredient in Nowan cooking.
Distribution: Temperate regions of the entire island.
lu.fí.ve Potato Green
This green is grown both for its leaves and for its large, fleshy root.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
lu.p'i.wem Red Mint
A mat forming perennial with pink flowers, short stems and thick fleshy leaves. The leaves are relished for their clean minty taste and often served as the final dish of a meal.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
ve.la Red Potato
The most common potato species in Pan. Usually eaten boiled or mashed. Distinctive bright red skin and yellow flesh.
Distribution: Originally found throughout the area between the Herowi and the Moonsmoke Mountains.
lu.fí.pen Ruffed Greens
Tall, stalked green primarily grown for its feathery leaves although many people also eat its stalk.
fí.bhé Sawleaf Mustard
A green which is mostly used as a flavoring agent. Not a true mustard but it does have a strong mustard like flavor.
Distribution: Originally from western Pan.
ze.ngil Silverweed
A relative of the roses and Pacific Cinquefoil, its long brown roots are highly prized for their delicate flavors.
Distribution: Temperate areas.
yol.pten SourGrass
A grass used as a flavoring agent, distinctive lemony flavor.
Distribution: Temperate areas.
dtú.lu Spice Horsetail
Variety of horsetail, which when picked young, is dried and powdered and used as flavoring agent.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
kal.lu, kal.ze Steppe Cabbage
A dark green leafy plant bearing a superficial resemblance to cabbage or lettuce although it is not closely related to either.
Distribution: Originally found along the edges of the steppe, now widely cultivated.
ve.fé Steppe Dock
A herbaceous perennial growing about 1 meter high. Nowans eat the potato like root and the stem which somewhat resembles celery or rhubarb in appearance.
Distribution: Margins of the steppes.
yol.wol Sweet Grass
A grassy perennial, distinguished by small red flowers. Its roots contain a complex sugar that breaks down into simple sugars while cooking. The roots are often dried and ground and used as a sweetening agent in cooking. The base of the stem is also occasionally used but is not grown commercially.
Distribution: West of the Moonsmoke Mountains.
lú.fí.kun Tea Fern
Roots are used to make a licorice flavored tea. Young shoots are eaten boiled or steamed.
Distribution: wild along eastern and southern coasts, now cultivated in temperate areas.
fé.ze Three Flowered Onion
This onion species is characterized by small, triple bunches of purple flowers. Its bulbs average 5-6cm in diameter and are an essential ingredient in Nowan cooking.
Distribution: Throughout Pan except for central Nordland.
ze.lé.thú Vinepod
A fleshy green vegetable that grows on climbing vines. A distant relative of the pea family.
Distribution: Originally found on eastern slopes of the Moonsmoke mountains.
xu.phu Waterroot
An aquatic perennial that grows in shallow lakes or pools. It roots are a peppery tasting tuber which is widely used in cooking.
Distribution: Formerly in the Great Central Valley but now cultivated throughout temeperate regions.
xu.chí Wormroot
So called because the large central tubor is surrounded by wormlike subroots. Eaten boiled, baked, mashed, it has a flavor somewhat like a combination of avocado, sweet potato and a touch of celery.
Distribution: Edges of the Steppes originally, now widely cultivated.
dtú.so.hong Yellow Thistle
Roots and stalks are both eaten. The stalks are usually boiled and mashed. Roots are often eaten raw and have a cucumber like taste.
Distribution: Originally on the Steppes but now also found in cleared areas of the west.

Fruits and Berrys

thú.hem.tt'ó Black Roseberry
A relative of roses, raspberries, and blackberries. This variety is cultivated both for its fruit and for its showy flowers on branching and climbing stalks.
Distribution: Western Pan.
thú.hem.tu Blue Roseberry
Similar to the black roseberry but not as well endowed with flowers. It is grown almost entirely as a food plant.
Distribution: Great Central Valley and southern coast.
thú.hem.p'a Cake Roseberry
Another roseberry, this one has purplish berries. Not widely eaten by itself, it is often dried and mixed with cakeberries.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
thú.yon Cape Orange
Smallish citrus fruit which varies from yellow to red-orange in both rind and flesh.
Distribution: Originally found on the Cape of Storms, now widely cultivated along the Southern Coast.
thú.kin Clusterberry
Small green berries which grow in long tight clusters. Widely used fresh, in jams, and for juice.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
thú.tu Eastern Blueberry
A close relative of the blueberry of North America. Widely consumed fresh, in jams, dried, etc.
Distribution: Originally only found east of the Herowi.
thú.ngi.q'é False Lime
A citrus like fruit, 5cm diameter, its thick green skin conceals a yellow or red flesh with 3-4 small black seeds. This was only domesticated in the mid-20th century with the discovery of naturally sweet varieties. Wild varieties are bitter and pungeant and are generally considered inedible.
Distribution: Southern coasts.
thú.q'é.ngi Green Sapote
Thick waxy green skin conceals two large pits and a white flesh with banana/strawberry flavors. Widely used for both its flesh and juice.
Distribution: Southern and eastern coasts.
thú.mó.ngi Herowi Papaya
Closely related to the Mountain Papaya of South America. This tree produces large green, melon-like fruits, widely used for both its flesh and its juice.
Distribution: Lower slopes of the Herowi originally, now widely cultivated in higher elevations.
wong.thú Mountain Guava
An egg shaped green fruit with a yellowish flesh. Flavors similar to pineapple. Tree is an evergreen and related to the Feijoa of South America.
Distribution: Southern Herowi.
wet.ve Mre Plantain
Short, relatively bell shaped relative of the banana family with thick, yellow-green skin and yellow flesh. Usually eaten cooked and often used as a thickener.
Distribution: Southern coast.
thú.wong Pinecone Apple
An evergreen fruit. Its exterior is green, with small spiny scales giving it somewhat the appearance of unripe pinecone. Interior is a soft white flesh with an apple like taste.
Distribution: Moonsmoke Mountains.
thú.so Prickly Cherry
A small red cherry like fruit whose skin is covered tiny spinelike hairs. Single large pit. Usually eaten after boiling which makes it easier to peel.
Distribution: Originally Western and Northern Pan, now widely domesticated.
thú.p'a Red Cakeberry
A small bittersweet, red berry. It is usually mashed, boiled and formed into cakes (hence the name.) Very popular and widely consumed.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
pol.la Ruby Grape
Small, purplish red grape. Not widely eaten, this is primarily used in wine production.
Distribution: Great Central Valley and Round Mountains.
thú.la.wol Sweet Redberry
Shrub with clusters of bright red berries. When fully ripe these are very sweet. The Sweet Redberry is the most popular berry in Nowapan.
Distribution: Lower mountain slopes and the edges of the steppes.
wet.k'o Tree Melon
Related to the South American Pepino. Large bush with apple sized fruits. The fruit is typically orange and waxy in appearance although there is lot of variation. Flesh is usually white to yellowish. Flavor is reminiscent of cucumbers.
Distribution: Lower slopes of the Herowi and throughout the Southern Mountains.
thú.wet Tree Tomato
Similar to a roma tomato in external appearance. Color varies from red to orange. Flesh is pink and there is a single large pit. Not widely used but some regions are quite fond of it. Related to South American tamarillo.
Distribution: Eastern forests.
thú.sho Velvet Sapote
A fairly large, yellow fleshed fruit with a reddish, fuzzcovered skin. Two large seeds in the interior. Widely used for both its fruit and flesh which has a peach/pear like flavor.
Distribution: Southern Coast.
thú.la.ro Winter Redberry
Shrub with cluster of small dark red berries. One of the last berries to remain on the bushes which they may do well after the first snowfall.
Distribution: Along the northern coast, west of the Herowi.
thú.mó.hong Yellow Papaya
Close relative of the Central American Papaya and similar in size and texture. Skin is bright, lemon yellow in color.
Distribution: Cape of Storms.

Medicinal Plants
ptá.wám.ngi Greenroot
This small flowering plant's thick green roots were made into a soup or broth and consumed as an anti-inflammatory or analgesic. Distribution: Found throughout the non-Nearctic regions.
ptá.k'o.hom (No common English name).
The powdered bark of this small shrub was mixed with water as a cure for diarrhea.
ptá.wóm.ge.'ú
Used as an appetite stimulant and an aid to digestion.
ptá.pum.ge
Used as an anti-flatulent it is often mixed directly into foods.
ptá.ngom.ttíl.tt'é
Used by women immediately after giving birth to promote healing of uterine tissues.
ptá.ze Medicine Plant
Roots are used to treat digestive ailments. Leaves are crushed and used for poultices. The small, pink flowers are eaten by pregnant women to ensure an easy birth. Seeds are used as a potent analgesic although their alkaloid content requires great care in their use. The stem is pounded and used as a laxative. Distribution: Throughout the temperate regions, along the edges of forests. Now commercially grown.
fí.tt'í Milkleaf
The leaves of this plant are eaten to increase to increase milk production in nursing mothers.
Distribution:
ptá.dtó.ngel
The stalk of this plant is abraded, then rubbed on gums of teething children or on the gums around toothaches.
Distribution:
lu.tt'í.ge
This plant is chopped whole and cooked into a soup. It is eaten to stop milk production in mothers who have weaned their children.
Distribution:
xu.xó.ngel
Root that is boiled and the resulting syrup is drank as a cure for sore throats.
Distribution:
fí.p'ó or less commonly, ze.p'ó Pani Tobacco
Although it is smoked in pipes for entertainment, meditation, it was also used an expectorant, or crushed and made into a poultice to treat beestings. Closely related to North American species. Distribution: Lowland temperate and warmer areas.
thú.ngol
The berries were dried, ground and boiled, producing a general stimulant, it contains a caffeine like compound. Now widely consumed as a beverage. Distribution: Originally along the southern edges of the Steppe.
ptá.pil.mér or ptá.pil.yom (No common English Name)
Given to babies for colic.
xu.lhe Loveroot
The small white roots are cooked with food and are believed to cause love.
Distribution:
thú.kor.pha Teaberry
This wild plants fruits are high in caffeine. Herders used to gather them and boil up a refreshing tea.
Distribution: Steppes
ptá.xhí (No common English Name)
The whole plant is chopped and boiled. It is used in poultices for infected wounds.
Distribution:
ptá.ptot.kem.ge (No common English Name)
The roots and stalks of this plant are eaten to cause false estrus.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
ptá.hing.ge (No common English Name)
The roots of this plant are boiled into a soup which is consumed for stomach upset.
Distribution:
ptot.kem.sha.nom (No common English Name)
The leaves, flowers, and seeds of this plant are consumed to cause estrus.
Distribution:
ptá.qung.ge (No common English Name)
The roots of this plant are boiled as a tea which is consumed for coughs.
Distribution:
ptot.ge.nom (No common English Name)
The leaves and berries of this plant are eaten by women to prevent estrus.
Distribution:
ptá.ttam.ge Feverwort
The seeds of this plant are chewed or ground and eaten as a treatment for fevers and inflammations.
Distribution:
ptá.ttí.lú (No common English Name)
A tea is made from this plant and consumed as a general tonic.
Distribution:
fí.kim.qong.'ú.nom (No common English Name)
The bitter leaves of this plant are eaten raw as an emetic (vomit inducer).
Distribution:
pté.go.'ú.ge (No common English Name)
The seed pods of this shrub are crushed, then mixed with milk. They are drank to cause abortions.
Distribution:
mo.ker.ge.nom (No common English Name)
Juice from this plant is rubbed on nipples while weaning children.
Distribution:

Textile and Dye Plants
qin.dtú Cane Flax
A reed like plant whose hollow stocks contain long fibres that make a wonderful cloth. Its resemblance to linen suggested the plant's name. Found all over the temperate regions, it is still widely used although it has given way to cotton.
dé.ze Cotton Plant
Genetically, this is most closely related to the new world cotton plant. Formerly used only along the southern coast, it is now the most important textile plant in Pan.
thú.ttér Deathberry
A small shrub whose white berries are extremely poisonous. The roots are used to make a bright red dye.
nge.ze Hemp
Widely cultivated for a variety of uses. Still an important textile plant it is also used for many industrial purposes and is the main source of paper in Pan. It is smoked for both medicinal and entertainment purposes although the market for smoking varieties is only a tiny fraction of the industrial uses.
ze.kum Red Nettle
This plant is used for a variety of purposes. Its shoots can be eaten and are prized as a delicacy. The fibrous stalk contains a strong, rot resistant fiber that was formerly widely used. And finally, the roots are important as a source of yellow dye.
k'o.chí.fí Silk Bush
Not directly used for textiles, silk worms are raised on these bushes to produce a superior grade of silk. This 1.5m tall bush has long, dark green leaves and small clusters of bright red flowers.
lé.pi.ze Thread-and-Needle Plant
Agave sp. with sharp spines on the ends of their leaves. The leaves contain a tough fiber that was used as thread and the spines were used as needles.

Foreign Plants
thú.pten.pán Lemon
Grown along the southern coast.
ze.dtú.pté Maize, Corn
This plant became popular during the 1950's as an animal feed and a source of chemicals. Not usually eaten by humans.
k'o.chí.fí.pán Mulberry Bush
Berries are occasionally eaten but this tree was originally imported as a food supply for silk worms. Still raised for that purpose.
tte.hong Soybean
This plant was introduced from Asia sometime around 900-1000 AD. Now widely cultivated, both as a food ingredient and more commonly for industrial purposes.

Industrial Plants
ze.bhú Grease Plant
This plant produces a largely unpalatable oil which was once widely used in lamps and is now an important ingredient in the alcohol fuel used in automobiles.
ze.bhú.wól (No common English name)
This plant's oils are used as a base for perfumes and scents.
Distribution:
k'o.ptú.bhú Oil Nut Tree
This tree's oil rich nuts are used primarily for many industrial uses but is also used in a few local cuisines.
ze.bhú.ni Paintoil Plant
This plant's oil is used as a base for bodypaints and makeup.
Distribution:
p'é.póm.ze Pani Rubber Plant
This shrub is the source of most of the natural latex rubber used in Nowapan. Closely related to the Guayucule of the Southwestern United States.
pté.pten Sour Corn
This grass produces a cluster of yellow-to-brown seeds. The seeds can be eaten and as their name indicates have a distinctive sour flavor. Although some sour corn is used for seasoning of foods, the great majority of annual production is used for industrial purposes, including various oils and plastics.

Mushrooms and Fungi
ttóng.zú Crown Mushroom
Averages 12cm high and 10cm diameter. Named for the frilly edge around top of the cup. White stem and brown crown.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan in temperate areas. Domesticated widely.
ttóng.zú.ghó False Crown Mushroom
A deadly species that exactly mimics the Crown Mushroom. To Nowans, this has a distinctive and disgusting odor which is undetectable to Homo sapiens.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan in temperate areas.
hím.wem Pink Horn
A large (15cm+) mushroom that is, as the name implies, both pink and horn-like (vulgarly compared to a phallus) in shape. A choice edible species.
Distribution: Cultivated for at least 500 years, but also all along the western slopes of the Herowi and the southern edges of the steppes.
ttóng.ghú.ngul.ge Purple Death
Extremely toxic. Purplish-pink in color. Grows to 10cm high and 4cm across the cup.
Distribution: Throughout southern and central Pan.
ttóng.k'o Tree Mushroom
This large, branching mushroom may grow up to 60 cm in height. It is edible.
Distribution: Eastern slopes of the Herowi. It is difficult to cultivate domesticately, but efforts continue.
ttóng.pám.hong Yellow Cedar Wing
This species, one of a large number of species referred to as 'wings' in English and as 'hands' in Nova, grows upon decaying cedar logs. Considered the most delicious of all Pani mushroom. Up to 18cm across. Bright yellow in color, with concentric red bands.
Distribution: Northeastern slopes of the Herowi and domesticated since the 16th century.

Trees

Coniferous Trees
wong.tter.qut cedar, eastern
This beautiful cedar, up to 25m high, is the most important tree, commercially and ecologically, throughout its range
Distribution: Northern half of the east coast.
wong.y�n.tt�l Giant Spruce
Tallest tree in Pan, some are over 125m in heighth. Now almost entirely protected, it was once a valuable timber source.
Distribution: LaPerousseland.
wong.ngi.tt'o Northern Spruce
Important timber species.
Distribution: Widely distributed in Northeastern and Northern Pan.
wong.pt� Nut Pine
This formerly wild tree is now raised on tree farms for its flavorful pine nuts.
Distribution: Wild Nut Pines are found in lower elevations of the Herowi but the tree is now widely cultivated.

Deciduous Trees

Nowapan is home to a large variety of deciduous trees including the world's largest oak, the Imperial Oak, and an important family of species called Stonewoods. Both groups are extensively raised for both wood and nuts. The stonewoods are known for their very dense, heavy and weather-resistant wood and one species, the Blacknut, has been extensively cultivated for increased nut production.
k'o.q'�.tt'� Blackbark Ash
Valued as firewood but not otherwise exploited.
Distribution: Temperate regions.
pt�.tt'� Blacknut
Widely cultivated Stonewood sp. Its abundant nut crop is an important food source. Named for its nuts which have a shiny black exterior and are about 4cm long, 1.5cm in diameter.
Distribution: Originally along the southwestern slopes of the Herowi but now widely cultivated.
k'o.ngo.f�.m� Broadleaf Stonewood
Named for its wide (25cm) and long (30cm) leaves. Mostly cultivated as a shade species, it is also exploited for its wood.
Distribution: Originally northern slopes of the Round Mountains.
k'o.ngo Common Stonewood
Important timber species. Now widely cultivated in tree farms.
Distribution: All around the steppes where soils are not too dry.
k'o.qur.he Dwarf Rock Oak
A gnarled looking species that rarely grows to more than 10m. Valued as an ornamental variety.
Distribution: Originally along north central eastern slopes of the Herowi.
k'o.qur.kum Fire Oak
So named because its wood burns very hot, it was once highly valued as a firewood source.
Distribution:
k'o.r� Generous Tree
Multi-purpose, fast growing tree species. Source of lumber, firewood, nuts, and shade.
Distribution: Southern Pan.
k'o.qur.y�n.tt�l Imperial Oak
A giant oak species, specimens over 100m are known.
Distribution: Lower western slopes of the Snowwinds.
k'o.ngo.q'o.la Red Stonewood
Valued for lumber due to its Redwood like wood.
Distribution: Western highlands.
k'o.pt'�.q'o Spotted Maple
Highly prized for its wood which has a distinctive 'birdseye' pattern.
Distribution:
k'o.w�l.king Swamp Birch
Birch species that grows in and around wetlands.
Distribution: Northern Pan.
k'o.l�.wol Sweet Maple
This maple sp. is cultivated for its sweet sap which is consumed both raw and as a flavoring agent.
Distribution: Northern Pan.
k'o.pt�.xh�.ge Sweetnut Oak
This oak's acorns are exceptionally low in tannic acids and it is widely consumed.
Distribution: Originally along eastern Snowwind Mountains.
k'o.ngo.q'o.king White Stonewood
A valuable timber tree. Exploitation is limited due to its scarcity.
Distribution: Round Mountains.

Wild Plants
thú.wem.so Deer Berry
This bramble's fruit is distasteful to humans, but deer and other animals love its bright pink berries.
Distribution: Lower mountainous areas.
thú.pten Lemon Berry
So named for both its bright yellow color and sour taste. While it can be eaten, it is not domesticated.
Distribution: Round Mountains

Back to the Nowapan Reference Handbook
Back to my home page
Email me
© 2001 Brad Coon

Revised August 29, 2001

URL:www.geocities.com/nowapan
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1