gorgor

Kuanua: ‘goragora’.

Peekel gives goragora as the Kuanua term for Alpinia spp, especially A. oceanica. This has terminal flowers. Other species with flowers/fruit coming up from the rhizome, which may be Alpinia, Amomum, Horstedtia or Nicolaia, are gorgor in Manus Tok Pisin. The sweet/spicy arils of some of them are widely appreciated by children. This group includes large plants with fragrant flowers and aromatic rhizomes (very like galangal), widely planted for the flowers and rhizomes and important in garden magic.

. See List discussion. .

Noun forms

  1. Food crops: any of a range of plants of the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family, including Alpinia sp., whose roots and leaves may be used in sorcery preparations. ® kawawar

  1. Botany: any small shrub with leaves used for decorative purposes.

  1. Culture: any small leaves in the gorgor category tied across, say, a fence to warn passengers-by not enter a garden.

© Revising the Mihalic Project, 26 Jan 2005 [Home]