植物介紹-山棕 Plant Introduction of BanBan

date of issue:2021-06-16

山棕 BanBan(賽夏語)

山棕分布在臺灣低海拔的山區,尤其是溫暖潮濕的溪谷或是山麓地帶,就算陽光不是十分充足,甚至是有點陰暗的地方,都可以看見它茂盛的生長著。山棕全株都是寶,早期部落族人將羽狀葉子與葉柄約兩公尺,捆在一起就是一把非常實用的掃帚,樹幹的纖維則是製成簑衣(雨衣)與刷子的材料

山棕的嫩芽可食用,滋味鮮甜,介於藤心和檳榔心之間。山棕成熟的果實將由黃色轉成紅色,吃起來澀又帶甘甜味,吃後嘴會麻麻的,除原住民採食以外,山林的動物白鼻心、松鼠都喜歡吃,因此原住民族藉以觀察紅熟的山棕果,來推測動物的足跡並裝置陷阱獵捕

山棕在原住民族傳統的習俗中也時常出現,阿美族在六月海祭之前會先收割小米,小米收成時一定要用山棕葉來綁成束。山棕和賽夏族與小矮人有著一段,兩種族之間的傳說故事,因此山棕成了矮靈祭不可或缺的民族植物之一,每當在山徑聞到山棕花濃烈的芳香,賽夏族人們便不得不想起矮人的叮嚀

 

banban (the Saisiyat word for Arenga engleri, or Taiwan sugar palm)

Banban trees are distributed across lower-altitude mountainous areas of Taiwan, especially warm, humid mountain foothills and valleys. They can thrive without much sunlight, in partial or even full shade. Historically, Taiwan’s aboriginal people have made use of every part of the plant. For example, two-meter-long branches with attached pinnate (feather-shaped) leaves make an excellent broom when tied together; and fibers from the tree trunk can be used to make waterproof coats, capes, and brushes.

The tender sprouts of Banban trees are edible and have a sweet refreshing taste that can be compared to calamus root or betel nut. Banban fruits are ripe when they change from yellow to red, are mildly astringent with sweet taste, and produce a numbing effect on the mouth. Besides humans, animals such as squirrels and civets also eat them; therefore, aboriginal hunters and trappers traditionally inspect the ripe red Banban fruits in order to locate and track prey.

The Banban tree appears in many aboriginal customs and ceremonies. For example, before the beginning of the Milalikis/Misacepo fishing festival in June, Amis people harvest millet and wrap it in Banban leaves. An important legend tells of the Saisiyat people’s hardship after banishing an ancient dwarf race from their formerly shared lands. The surviving dwarves, an old couple, warn them to carry on certain traditions. The event is commemorated in the PaSta’ay festival; in the legend, and in the festival, the Banban tree plays a central role.