@article{fdi:23225,
  title = {{L}e kava des anc{\^e}tres est-il l'anc{\^e}tre du kava},
  author = {{L}ebot, {V}incent and {C}abalion, {P}ierre and {L}evesque, {J}o{\¨e}l},
  editor = {},
  language = {{FRE}},
  abstract = {{T}he preparation of the ground-up roots of the kava plant ({PIPER} {METHYSTICUM}) into an intoxicating drink has been widely practiced at various times throughout the {S}outh {P}acific from {P}apua {N}ew {G}uinea to {T}ahiti and {H}awa{\¨ie}. {O}riginally it was thought that the practice was of {P}olynesian origin as it was first observed by early {E}uropean explorers in {T}ahiti. {T}he kava plant ({PIPER} {METHYSTICUM}) does not naturally occur throughout the {P}acific area and has been introduced into much of the area by the indigenous peoples. {B}ecause the plant is sterile or without fruit or seed from which new plants may be grown, the only way new plants can be established is from cuttings from existing plants. {T}herefore, it has been supposed that if it were not for man's interest in the plant for his own consumption then the plant would die out in a few years. {A}side from the botanic interest in the plant its wider use in pharmaceuticals results in 30-40 tonnes of kava roots being sold to {E}urope for this purpose annually. {I}t is the chemicals called kava lactones found in the roots of the kava plant that produces the intoxicating effect of interest to the {P}acific peoples who drink it. {T}hese lactones are also sought after by manufacturers of pharmaceuticals. {A} better understanding of the plant and its origins would not only be further botanic interest but also lead the way to potentially better of strains of kava that could yield more kava lactones for commercial consumption. {T}here are three ways, it is currently supposed, that this sterile plant could have come about. {E}ither it is man-made hybrid of closely related other species of kava that has been propagated by man alone or it is a natural hybrid which man has further propagated by cuttings or lastly, a naturally occuring sterile mutant of a species where the same mutation will happen quite naturally and frequently. {I}f the origins of kava lie in a man made mutant then the ancestors of the hybrid should be evident but no such evidence has come to light so far. {A}lternatively, if it was a natural sterile hybrid then a "discoverer" for the species would have to have had a good sence of observation, a great presence of mind and a passion for uncertain agronomical experiences. {O}n the other hand if we admit the possibility of it being a continuing and naturally occurring mutant then the plant could come in a straight line from several closely related species without hybridization. {I}n the search for ancestors for the kava plant one ({PIPER} {WICHMANNII}) has shown sufficient chemical similarity with {MACROPIPER} {LATIFOLIUM} (wild kava) so as to qualify as a possible ancestor of {PIPER} {METHYSTICUM}. {I}f {PIPER} {WICHMANNII} is an ancestor of kava then the origins of the kava plant {PIPER} {MYTHYSTICUM} would seem to be {M}elanesian because the distribution of {PIPER} {WICHMANNII} is mostly {M}elanesian. ({R}{\'e}sum{\'e} d'auteur)},
  keywords = {{ETHNOBOTANIQUE} ; {PLANTE} {MEDICINALE} ; {SOCIETE} {TRADITIONNELLE} ; {BOISSON} ; {BOTANIQUE} ; {COMPOSITION} {CHIMIQUE} ; {CHIMIOTAXONOMIE} ; {REPARTITION} {GEOGRAPHIQUE} ; {INDUSTRIE} {PHARMACEUTIQUE} ; {KAVA} ; {KAVA} {SAUVAGE} ; {ESPECE} {STERILE} ; {ORIGINE} {GEOGRAPHIQUE} ; {KAVALACTONE} ; {MUTANT} {SOMATIQUE} ; {MUTATION} {SOMATIQUE} ; {PAPOUASIE} {NOUVELLE} {GUINEE} ; {POLYNESIE} ; {TAHITI} ; {MELANESIE} ; {VANUATU} ; {PACIFIQUE} {SUD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}aika},
  numero = {23},
  pages = {1--12},
  year = {1986},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:23225},
}