Pacific-Pictures.com

South Pacific Photos: Trees & Plants

Pacific Trees and Plants

The natural vegetation of the Pacific islands originated in the Malaysian region. Centuries ago, oceangoing Polynesian canoes carried many useful plants to the islands, including kava, taro, breadfruit, yams, and plantains. Drought-resistant coconuts and pandanus are found almost everywhere.

All photos on Pacific-Pictures.com are by David Stanley, author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific. The images on this page are details. To view the complete photos, click on the thumbnails.

featured book

Moon Handbooks
South Pacific

Flamboyant Tree, Aitutaki, Cook Islands In the South Pacific the flamboyant, also known as the flame tree or royal poinciana, is covered in bright red blossoms from November to March.
		The roots of the pepper plant are crushed to produce kava.

		Taro is one of the staple root crops of the South Pacific islands.

Noni pulp is made into a drink with therapeutic qualities.	Dried pandanus leaves are woven into baskets and mats.	Another Pacific staple, breadfruit, grows on trees.

A flavoring extract is made from the seedpod of vanilla.	Cacoa seed pods are roasted and ground to produce cocoa.	The Araucaria columnaris pine is symbolic of New Caledonia.

Pacific-Pictures.com

Pacific Trees and Plants

Flamboyant Tree, Aitutaki, Cook Islands