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Sodium-rich tree ash as a native salt source in lowland Papua

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Abstract

The Gidra-speaking Papuans of the Oriomo Plateau, lowland Papua New Guinea, consume ash of two tree species (Melaleuca sp. andAcacia mangium) as a native salt. The ashes contain 100–200 mg sodium/g ash, which is very much higher than the sodium levels in native plant ashes (except for the swamp herbEriocaulon australe) collected in other regions of the world.

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Ohtsuka, R., Suzuki, T. & Morita, M. Sodium-rich tree ash as a native salt source in lowland Papua. Econ Bot 41, 55–59 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859348

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859348

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