| *Mamangi [Proto Polynesian] |
Māmāngi |
Coprosma repens and C. arborea (Rubiaceae) |
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Other inherited names: Naupata & Angiangi (see separate pages) |
ETYMOLOGY:
From: Proto Polynesian *Mamangi, probably originally denoting a tough vine with green, prominently veined leaves.
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Reserved for a photograph - X
(Watch this space!)
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Reserved for a photograph - X
(Watch this space!) |
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COGNATE WORDS IN OTHER POLYNESIAN LANGUAGES
Tongan: Mamange (Morinda myrtifolia [Rubiaceae])
Samoan: Mamagi (Faradaya amicorum [Verbibaceae])
Hawaiian: Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla)
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RELATED MĀORI PLANT NAMES
Naupata & Angiangi |
Watch this space! This is one of the first pages written in the prototype stage of this web site, which has been transferred with minimal changes to the newer format. It is still therefore very much under construction, but contains the essential linguistic and botanical information, and both expanded text and more pictures will be added progressively as soon as time permits (new pages for plant names not yet discussed are being given priority). If you would like this page to be updated sooner than planned, please email a note to temaarareo at gmail.com.
 Both the trees which have inherited the name māmāngi are endemic to Aotearoa, and each has a limited distribution. Coprosma arborea is found naturally in forests (both on the margins and as a sub-canopy plant) in the northern third of the North Island. C. repens is found throughout the North Island and in the northern part of the South Island.
Mead and Grove record a proverb about the māmāngi which could apply to either or both of these trees:
He pū māmāngi kī tahi, "A clump of taupata with a single word" -- that is, the berries are ripe in May, indicating definitively that summer and autumn have passed, and the cold season is here. [Meade & Grove, 662]
Coprosma repens has a number of aliases, all Polynesian heritage names: angiangi, naupata and taupata (see links above). Coprosma arborea seems to be known only as māmāngi.
More information about Coprosma repens, as well as photographs, can be found on the page for naupata.
MUCH MORE TO BE ADDED HERE Ā TE WĀ!
Reserved for photograph - yet to come
(Aroha mai!)
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Reserved for photograph - yet to come
(Aroha mai!) |
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| References and further reading: More to come; meanwhile consult the general works on NZ trees and flora in the bibliography. Websites with information on New Zealand plants include Robert Vennell's The Meaning of Trees, the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, and the Landcare / Manaaki Whenua NZ Flora database, all of which have links to other sources of information. The University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences also has an excellent website dedicated to New Zealand native plants. The Cook Island Biodiversity Network Database and Wikipedia are good places to start looking for information about the tropical plants. |
Photographs: The inset photo is of Coprosma arborea, from the Bushman's Friend website.
Citation: This page may be cited as: R. A. Benton (2009) "The Māori plant name Māmāngi" (web page periodically updated), Te Māra Reo. "http://www.temarareo.org/TMR-Mamangi.html" (Date accessed)
(Hoki atu ki runga -- Go back to the top of the page.) |
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