Traditional Uses of Plants


A traditional Marshallese house with thatch made from Pandanus
Plants have been a very important resource for people in the Marshall Islands ever since the first settlers arrived in these atolls and reef islands. Early settlers brought several plant species on their long-distance voyaging canoes. These useful, introduced plants have provided food, fiber, medicine, and other natural products. The early Marshallese also learned how to utilize the native species that they found growing wild in the islands. Over many centuries of experience, a large body of knowledge about these plants has been gathered and passed on from generation to generation.

Uses and Functions of Plants on Pacific Islands
(Many of these uses occur in the Marshall Islands)

Ecological Uses and Functions

shade
wind protection
erosion control
wild animal food
soil improvement
salt spray buffers
temperature control
flood/runoff control
weed/disease control
animal/plant habitats
nutrients for animals
storm surge protection

Cultural and Economic Uses

timber
brooms
prop or nurse plants
tools
decoration
staple food
fuel
abrasive materials
supplementary food
weapons/hunting
insulation
snack/wild/emergency food
containers
cordage/lashing
packaging/wrapping
torches/lamps
floats
fishing gear
sails
caulking
boat/canoe-building
fiber/fabric
house thatch 		masticants
spices/seasonings
dyes
drugs
teas
glues/adhesives
plaited ware
body ornamentation
toys
hats
meat tenderizer
switches
baskets
preservatives
brush
magico-religious
medicines
aphrodisiacs
fertility control
musical instruments
abortifacient
mats 		baskets
tannin
scents/perfumes
commercial/export
cages/roosts
ritual exchange
products
poison
toilet paper
deodorant
insect repellant
recreation
embalming corpses
toothbrush
fire-making
religious images
totems
dancing grounds
secret meeting grounds
metaphors/symbols
boundary markers
subjects of mythology


A finished and rolled pandanus woven mat in the Marshall Islands.

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