ON THIS PLANT
Pritchardia affinis, the Hawai'i pritchardia, is a species of palm tree that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Wild populations currently exist on the leeward side of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It was most likely cultivated by Native Hawaiians, so its exact native range is uncertain. P. affinis reaches a height of 10–25 m (33–82 ft). It is threatened by rats and pigs, which damage the trees and eat the seeds before they can grow. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Its fruit was reportedly the preferred food of the now-extinct ula-ai-hawane—a niche that has been seemingly filled by the introduced lavender waxbill.
CHARACTERISTICS
Botanical profile.
- Genus
- Pritchardia
- Family
- Arecaceae
ALSO KNOWN AS
Other names.
en Hawai'i pritchardia en Kona palm en Hawaii Lo'ulu en Lo`ulu en Lo'ulu
PLATES
