| Binomial |
Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & H.Wendl. |
| Family |
Arecaceae |
| Tamil name |
ஈச்ச மரம் (Eecha Maram) |
| Habit |
Evergreen, single stemmed palm, tall up to 15m |
| Bark |
Upright, spreads towards the base, smooth, pale grey to tan with faint leaf scars |
| Flowers |
Golden yellow to brown, fragrant, inflorescence is 2 to 3 ft long, borne in large clusters |
| Fruits |
Round, borne in clusters, shiny reddish black, showy |
| Pollinators |
Bees and other insects |
| Native to Fiji and Tonga |
The plant is primarily grown as an ornamental. It has massive fan-like leaves. In Fiji, the
leaves are used as fans by the tribal chiefs. It is also used as an umbrella to get protected from
both sun and rain. The leaf was held immediately above the head when it was raining in order
and the rain rolled off the leaf behind the head. The plant is very sensitive to cold
temperatures. A light, flexible wood was used to construct a border for the leaves. The trunk
of this species was occasionally used for ridge-beams. Pritchardia's name is dedicated to
William Thomas Pritchard, British official stationed in Fiji in the 19th Century. The species
epithet in Latin means of the Pacific Ocean. |
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