Editing Ptychococcus lepidotus (section)

===In from the cold?===
''Ptychococcus lepidotus'' grows only in the Highlands of New Guinea from an altitude range of 1000 metres up to 3000 metres! I have seen it growing in Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea right across the other Highland Provinces to the western most one, Enga Province. I believe it to occur also in Irian Jaya at corresponding altitudes and after speaking to travellers who have toured the Baliem Valley it seems the native people definitely have a palm like ''P. lepidotus'' in cultivation. It must have a broad range of distribution and in some areas, at lower elevations may overlap with ''P. paradoxus'', based on personal observations in Morobe Province in P.N.G. I would not say ''P. lepidotus'' is abundant in any one area that I've seen, and it is difficult to say whether or not people have been the major cause for its pattern of distribution, but I certainly suspect it so. Only once have I seen it in natural stands of primary forest in Eastern Highlands Province, adjacent to a major highway; the chances of this population staying intact would not be great. 
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For the most part ''P. lepidotus'' has a long history of cultivation and one will often see it in people's gardens or within their village limits. In Western Highlands Province, P.N.G. I've noticed nowadays more and more are planted in 'pies matmat' (cemeteries) and at historic/monument sites, but I don't fully understand the significance of this. My first encounter with ''P. lepidotus'' was at a village in Mt. Hagen in January 1993, the home of one of my most gracious wantoks, in Papua New Guinea. In his language (Melpa) it is known as Buna and to this day I refer to it the same, (the botanic name is too awkward to use in pidgin conversation). It has played a very important part, historically, in the lives of these Highland people, and the same can be said for other peoples right across the New Guinea Highlands, for ''P. lepidotus'' has a universal use, it is the primary source for bows and spear heads. These were essential tools as far as hunting game and fighting wars was concerned and no self-respecting young man would be without them. These days of course it is much more different, and sadly many young men have lost the skills of their forebears, and do not know how to craft a bow! Whilst it may sound simple enough to do, from what I've seen it is definitely a skill that one must master, consequently there are only one or two 'bikman' (elders) in any one village that still continue this tradition. In the past they would instruct young men, who in their passage to manhood, had to learn this skill to ensure their own survival and acceptance as a warrior. In those days it was considered an important event and great honour was bestowed on those warriors who fought in tribal wars. The entire system of land ownership in the Highlands has evolved from tribal wars and the resulting dividing up of the 'spoils of war'. In recent years many disputes as to clan property boundaries still stem from grievances dating back to these times and as the population of Highlands people is rapidly increasing, the availability of land is correspondingly decreasing. Only the most foolhardy of persons would throw away their 'bunara' (bow) you can bet most people still have theirs tucked away for safe keeping - just in case&#160;!]]