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5 plants worth knowing

Palau

Palau lies on the western edge of Micronesia: it is made up of the volcanic island of Babeldaob, more than 300 forest-clad limestone Rock Islands in the Koror lagoon, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a few remote atolls. It is the most botanically rich part of Micronesia, with more than a hundred endemic species – from forests on limestone to the grassy savannas of Babeldaob and extensive mangroves.

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

where it grows

  1. Areca palm 1

    palm

    Areca palm

    Areca catechu

    Betel chewing is a daily ritual in Palau – the nut, with a pepper leaf and lime, is offered to guests and even taken to work.
  2. Taro 2

    crop

    Taro

    Colocasia esculenta

    In Palau’s matrilineal culture, growing taro in flooded patches is women’s domain and a source of their prestige.
  3. Common swamp pitcher plant 3

    climber

    Common swamp pitcher plant

    Nepenthes mirabilis

    This carnivorous pitcher plant traps insects in lidded pitchers – in Palau the larvae of the mosquito Aedes dybasi develop in their fluid.
  4. Cycas micronesica 4

    tree

    Cycas micronesica

    Cycas micronesica

    Micronesia’s ancient cycad grows on the limestone Rock Islands – now threatened by an introduced scale insect that devastated it on Guam.
  5. Tall-stilt mangrove 5

    tree

    Tall-stilt mangrove

    Rhizophora apiculata

    Mangrove forests on arching stilt roots ring Babeldaob – a nursery for reef fish and the realm of mud crabs.