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5 plants worth knowing

French Polynesia

French Polynesia comprises 118 islands in five archipelagos – from the high volcanic Society Islands and Marquesas, with humid mountain forests and steep ridges, to the flat Tuamotu atolls, covered mainly in coconut palms. The native flora is relatively poor in species but rich in endemics, and many of the most important useful plants were brought here centuries ago by Polynesian voyagers.

Hover over a plant to see on the map where it grows.

where it grows

  1. Tahitian gardenia 1

    shrub · Floral emblem of Tahiti and French Polynesia

    Tahitian gardenia

    Gardenia taitensis

    The fragrant white tiare greets every arrival at Papeete airport, and worn behind the ear it reveals whether the wearer is single.
  2. Tahitian vanilla 2

    orchid

    Tahitian vanilla

    Vanilla × tahitensis

    Tahitian vanilla has plumper pods and a floral, aniseed aroma – prized by the world’s finest pastry chefs.
  3. Breadfruit 3

    tree

    Breadfruit

    Artocarpus altilis

    HMS Bounty sailed to Tahiti for breadfruit seedlings – before the famous mutiny broke out on board in 1789.
  4. Tamanu 4

    tree

    Tamanu

    Calophyllum inophyllum

    The sacred tree of the old marae, whose seeds are pressed for tamanu oil – the Polynesian remedy for wounds and burns.
  5. Tiare apetahi 5

    shrub · Floral symbol of the island of Raiatea

    Tiare apetahi

    Sclerotheca raiateensis

    It grows on just one plateau on Raiatea, and legend says its half-hand-shaped flower is the hand of an unhappy lover.