FLORA OF FIJI'S TROPICAL DRY FOREST
Dry forest patch on the western side of Yadua Taba. Courtesty of apscience.org
Fiji's tropical dry forest contains an estimated 324 flora species, of which 310 are native to Fiji and 14 are introduced. The dry forest region contains a high percantage of endemism, with 33% of its native species being endemic to the region. While trees are the most common form of flora (45%), shrubs, herbs, climbers and epiphytes are also present.
Common Flora Found in Fiji's Tropical Dry Forest
The following are just a few of the flora found in Fiji's Dry Tropical Forests, check out the more extensive flora list!
Planchonella grayana
Common Names: Planchonella, Pouteria, Karaka
Family: Sapotaceae
Global Distribution: Native to Fiji, Cook Islands, Tuamotu
Status: Not evaluated
Family: Sapotaceae
Global Distribution: Native to Fiji, Cook Islands, Tuamotu
Status: Not evaluated
Premna protrusa
Common Names: None
Family: Verbanaceae
Global Distribution: Native and endemic to Fiji
Status: Least concern
Family: Verbanaceae
Global Distribution: Native and endemic to Fiji
Status: Least concern
Mucuna gigantea
Common Names: Seabean
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, Australia, China, Hawaii, Japan, Madagascar, Melanesia
Status: Not evaluated
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, Australia, China, Hawaii, Japan, Madagascar, Melanesia
Status: Not evaluated
Psydrax odorata
Common Names: Alahe'e (Hawaiian)
Family: Rubiaceae
Global Distribution: Native to Pacific Islands, Malesia, and Australasia
Status: Not available
Family: Rubiaceae
Global Distribution: Native to Pacific Islands, Malesia, and Australasia
Status: Not available
Gyrocarpus americanus
Common Names: Volador
Family: Hernandiaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, Madagascar, Central America
Status: Not evaluated
Family: Hernandiaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, Madagascar, Central America
Status: Not evaluated
Derris trifoliata
Common Names: Common derris
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Melanesia, Belau, Indonesia, Eastern Asia, Madagascar
Status: Not evaluated
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Melanesia, Belau, Indonesia, Eastern Asia, Madagascar
Status: Not evaluated
Morinda citrifolia
Common Names: Great morinda, mengkudu, Kumudu, beach mulberry, noni, Indian mulberry, nunaakai, pace, cheese fruit.
Family: Rubiaceae
Global Distribution: Southeast Asia and Australasia
Status: Not available
Family: Rubiaceae
Global Distribution: Southeast Asia and Australasia
Status: Not available
Cynometra falcata
Common Names: Cynometra falcata
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Endemic and native to Fiji
Status: Critically Endangered
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Endemic and native to Fiji
Status: Critically Endangered
Kingiodendron platycarpum
Common Names: Kingiodendron platycarpum
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Endemic and native to Fiji
Status: Least Concern
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Endemic and native to Fiji
Status: Least Concern
Cynometra insularis
Common Names: Cynometra insularis
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Endemic and native to Fiji
Status: Least Concern
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Endemic and native to Fiji
Status: Least Concern
Garuga floribunda
Image courtesy of www.pngplants.org
Common Name: Garuga, Kedondong
Family: Burseraceae
Global Distribution:Pan tropical, including Fiji, India to West China
Status: Not Available
Family: Burseraceae
Global Distribution:Pan tropical, including Fiji, India to West China
Status: Not Available
Pongamia pinnata
Common Name: Indian Beech, Pongam
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, India, Thailand, Australia, China, USA, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea
Status: Not Available
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Fiji, India, Thailand, Australia, China, USA, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea
Status: Not Available
Koelreuteria elegans
Common Name: Chinese Rain Tree
Family: Sapindaceae
Global Distribution: Throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, including Fiji
Status: Not Available
Family: Sapindaceae
Global Distribution: Throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, including Fiji
Status: Not Available
Pongamia pinnata
Common Name: Indian Beech, Karanj, Honge, Pungai
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Tropical and temperate Asia including Fiji, parts of India, China, Japan, Australia and Pacific islands.
Status: Not Available
Family: Fabaceae
Global Distribution: Tropical and temperate Asia including Fiji, parts of India, China, Japan, Australia and Pacific islands.
Status: Not Available
Keppel, Gunnar; Tuiwawa, Marika V.. "Dry zone forests of Fiji: Species composition, life history traits, and conservation" New Zealand Journal of Botany 45.4 (2007). 04 Jun. 2011
< http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/00288250709509738 >
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Sources
Encyclopedia of Life. n.p. 2011. Web. 24 May 2011.
The IUCN Redlist of Endangered Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2010. Web. 24 May 2011.
Gillespie, T.W. et al. " Floristic Composition and Natural History Characteristics of Dry Forests in the Pacific." Pacific Science 65.2 (2011): 127-141.
Print.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility Data Portal. Global Biodiversity Information Facility, n.d. Web. 24 May 2011.Keppel, Gunnar; Tuiwawa, Marika V.. "Dry zone forests of Fiji: Species composition, life history traits, and conservation" New Zealand Journal of Botany 45.4 (2007). 04 Jun. 2011 < http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/00288250709509738>
World Agroforestry Centre. AgroForestryTree Database. Web. 24 May 2011
<http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=18155#Identity>
