Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & H.Wendl., Bonplandia (Hannover) 10: 197 (1862)

Primary tabs

no image available

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Fiji present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Marquesas present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Marshall Is. present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Niue present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Samoa present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Society Is. present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Solomon Is. present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Tonga present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Trinidad-Tobago present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Vanuatu present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Known only from cultivation, typically around sites of human activity, sometimes escaping and groWing wild in nearby secondary growth, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Niue, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, French Polynesia, 0-100 m elev. (Hodel, D. 2007. A Review of the Genus Pritchardia. Palms 51(4): Special Supplement S 1-53.)A

Discussion

  • Pritchardia pacifica is distinguished by its rounded, undulate leaf blades with stiff segment tips and abaxial surface more or less devoid of lepidia, inflorescences shorter than or equaling the petioles, and small S-38 fruits. Perhaps the most widely cultivated species of the genus in tropical landscapes and gardens, it is among the most handsome of palms. Truly natural populations of Pritchardia pacifica are unknown. Dennis and McQueen (1989) reported it groWing wild on Nggela Island north of Guadaleanal in the Solomon Islands but referred to it as P. wood(ordiana, a name of no botanical standing. Pritchardia pacifica has erroneously been reported to be growing wild on Eua Island in Tonga (Lister 1893, Beccari & Rock 1921, Watling 200S), but the species there is actually P. thurstonii. Burkill (1901) reported P. pacifica on Vavau Island of Tonga, but I have not seen the specimen at K to verify its identity. (Hodel, D. 2007. A Review of the Genus Pritchardia. Palms 51(4): Special Supplement S 1-53.)A

Description

  • To 15 m tall; proximal margins of petiole with only a few fibers; leaf blade undulate, divided 1/4-1/3, slightly waxy-glaucous, abaxial surface more or less devoid of lepidia, segment tips stiff; inflorescences composed of 1-4 panicles, shorter than to equaling petioles in flower and fruit, panicles branched to 2 orders, rachillae glabrous; fruits 11-12 mm diam., globose. (Hodel, D. 2007. A Review of the Genus Pritchardia. Palms 51(4): Special Supplement S 1-53.)A

Materials Examined

  • Cultivated Specimens Examined: FIJI. Seemann 659 (K, FI, Pl. Rotuma: Motusa Island: McClatchey 69 (BISH); Itutiu, St. John 19778 (BISH). MARSHALL ISLANDS. Likiep Island: St. John 21819 (BISH). NIUE. Alofi: Yuncker 9976 (BISH). Halagigie: Sykes 589 (BISH). TONGA. Niuatoputapu Island: Fakaalofa, Kirch 239 (BISH). WESTERN SAMOA. Savaii: Fanga, Christophersen 3598 (BISH); Salailua, Christophersen 2842 (BISH). AMERICAN SAMOA. Tutuila: Pago Pago, Bryan 1004 (BISH); Setchell 265 (BISH).Manua Group: Ofu Island, Aloafao, Garber 1012 (BISH), Ragone 2000-01 (PTBG). FRENCH POLYNESIA. Marquesas Islands: Nukuhiva, Hapua Valley, Brown 647 (BISH). U.S.A. Hawaii. Kauai: National Tropical Bot. Gard. (NTBG 860148.01), Chapin 54 (PTBG); Sheraton Poipu Hotel, Wood 208 (PTBG). (Hodel, D. 2007. A Review of the Genus Pritchardia. Palms 51(4): Special Supplement S 1-53.)A

Bibliography

    A. Hodel, D. 2007. A Review of the Genus Pritchardia. Palms 51(4): Special Supplement S 1-53.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae