Use of <i>Capsicum</i> Peppers in Micronesia: A Case Study in the Yap Islands and Mili Atoll

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  • Use of Capsicum Peppers in Micronesia : A Case Study in the Yap Islands and Mili Atoll

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Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey on Capsicum peppers was conducted on the Yap Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia （FSM）, and Mili Atoll, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), to investigate the local nomenclature for, and distribution and usage of, Capsicum peppers. Several cultivars of each of three species, C. annuum, C. frutescens, and C. chinense, are distributed on the Yap Islands, but only a single cultivar of C. frutescens with small fruit, which are green when immature, was found on Mili Atoll. A general name for Capsicum peppers on the Yap Islands is ta’bil, which has an unknown origin. The name pepa, which is probably derived from pfeffer in German or pepper in English, is used on Mili Atoll. All of the interviewees on the Yap Islands had seen weedy forms of C. frutescens and knew of, or had observed, birds eating its fruits. However, the percentage of such people on Mili Atoll is very low compared to that on the Yap Islands. Among the 13 interviewees who grew C. frutescens plants in their home gardens on the Yap Islands, 12 had transplanted weedy forms of C. frutescens growing in villages or fields to their home gardens. However, all of those on Mili Atoll had started seedlings from available fruit by themselves or had obtained seeds from other villagers. Fresh fruit and fruit soaked in palm vinegar are used widely as spices and condiments on both the Yap Islands and Mili Atoll. Capsicum leaves, especially those of C. frutescens, are used in soups and in mixtures of vegetables on the Yap Islands, which is similar to the practice in other states of the FSM. In contrast, no one reported eating these leaves on Mili Atoll. Perceptions and usage of Capsicum peppers on the Yap Islands are very similar to those in other states of the FSM. Conversely, the relationship between people and Capsicum peppers on Mili Atoll is much weaker than that of the FSM. To reveal whether this phenomenon occurs throughout the RMI or whether it is limited to Mili Atoll, further ethnobotanical study on Capsicum peppers is needed on other atolls of the RMI.

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