Plants of Fiji (Flora)

Native Orchids Of Fiji

The terrestrial rain forest of oceanic high islands in Fiji is home to a myriad of color and gaudiest form of more than 1800 native vascular plant species. Such spectacle is often taken for granted by the locals but has never failed to intrigue and amaze wildlife enthusiasts who have been visiting our shores since the early 1800s. One such group of wildlife belongs to the plant family Orchidaceae, more commonly referred to as orchids.
The word orchid is associated with “sumptuous flower”, with terms such as exotic, sexy, rare, expensive, beautiful, colorful and unique coming to mind. This family is the most varied and widespread with more than 30,000 species throughout the world, and where well over 100,000 hybrid strains have been artificially propagated. The orchid flower is what makes this plant different from all other flowering plants, especially the unbelievable variations in form and color. Many are astonishingly weird to have evolved to look like butterflies, bees, a fly and a swan. The perfume of some are unpleasant and maybe absent in others but in most of them there is an exquisite sweetness. They usually dominate (in terms of the number of genera) the higher plant flora of some other countries in the Pacific with similar flora as the upper Watuk region of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The majority of orchids (over 80%) inhabit the cooler mountainous forests at altitudes of over 600m. Most are epiphytes, that is, they grow on trees for support and light.
The orchid flora of Fiji is represented by 65 genera with 164 native species, of which 51 are endemic (restricted to a region) to Fiji. Only a very small percentage of Fiji’s native orchids are cultivated. Whilst the collection of popular species from the wild can threaten the survival of the wild orchid population, their main enemy is habitat destruction. Thus the protection of some of our remaining natural forest is the surest way to conserve these unique plants which are part of our natural heritage.
Calanthe ventilabrum Reichenb.

The plant can be found throughout Melanesia and Samoa. The orchid was first discovered near Somosomo, Taveuni in 1860 by Berthold C. Seemann who was the then botanist of the British Government Mission, sent here to consider the proffered cession of Fiji. It is locally referred to as varavara, a generic term used for such form of plant. The orchid is terrestrial and is found in dense and moist forest on mossy crest thickets at elevations between 200m to 1300m. The plant can grow to 60cm tall and leaves can be as long as 90cm. The distinctive feature about the orchid is its showy many flowered inflorescence that is bright yellow, or golden yellow or yellowish orange. The orchid has been noted to flower from May to November.

Liparis layardii F. v. Muell.

The species also occurs in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Samoa. In Fiji the orchid has only been recorded on Viti Levu. It is the rarest of the eight species that occur here in Fiji. The plant is terrestrial with stems growing to 25cm and the inflorescence up to 30cm in height and is restricted to the moist and dense forest near the summit of Mt. Koroyanitu (1160m) and the upper slopes of Mt. Tomanivi (1300m). The distinguishing feature about the plant is that its inflorescence is dark purple and its flowers being light purple in color with the male parts having a range of color from green to white.

Dendrobium catillare Reichenb.

The orchid is only found in Fiji (endemic) where it was first discovered in 1860 from Mt. Bukelevu in Kadavu by Seemann. It is one of the nine endemic species in the genus. The plant is an epiphyte growing to 50cm long and is found in dense forest from near sea level to elevations of 1200m. A feature characteristic about the plant is their inflorescences are on older, often defoliate stems, and the flowers are bright pink with the tip segments white.

Dendrobium mohlianum Reichenb.

The genus Dendrobium has the largest number of species (21) in the orchid family. This species is also later known to occur on the Solomon Island, Vanuatu and Samoa. It was first discovered on Mt Voma, Namosi in 1860 by Seemann. It is an epiphyte and can grow up to 70cm in dense moist forest at elevations between 300m to 1300m. It is relatively common and can be distinguished by its bright orange to reddish orange colour. It is like the C. ventilabrum and is amongst one of the showiest and striking coloured orchids in Fiji’s rain forest. The orchid flowers throughout the year.

Glomera montana Reichenb.

The species is also known to occur in Papua New Vanuatu and Samoa. It was first collected on Gau Island, in Lomaiviti in 1855 by William G. Milne a botanist and naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Herald. The plant is an epiphyte (at times, terrestrial), erects to 1.2m tall and can be found in moist, dense and stunted forests of high ridges at 600 to 1300m elevation. The flower-head comprises 6-15 flowers that are entirely white with a pink or red tinged distal portion of the labellum (lowest of the three petals). Flowers occur from September to February.

Ferns of Fiji

Ferns and Fern Allies are amongst the most abundant primitive group is of vascular plants, pre-dating the ages of the dinosaurs. They have successfully diversified and continue to persist and inhabit any relatively wet areas of any forest system on both continental landmass and island complexes.

Fiji Islands has 301 species of ferns represented in 27 as with 90 genera.The majority (66%) of species are native 30% endemic.The remaining 4% are exotic and most were introduced as ornamental.

As those listed below are few of the more common and widely distributed native fern species of Fiji.

Balabala is the generic term for all tree that occur in Fiji. Cyothea lunulata is one of the nine species in the genus s typically common and indicative highly disturbed forest system, paticularly that of a rainforest. On occasions, this terrestrial tree fern can up to 20m tall but it is often observed at heights between 8-1 Om.With its tri-pinnate fronds growing up in length and its greenish to black primary branch that maybe smooth or rough with copious scales that is pale and thin with marginal hair like growth, this species can readily be observed from any coastal front to the upland rest system. Its medicinal properties are also well known amongst the people of Beqa as it apparently is a popular remedy alleviating sore throats. Locals also use the trunk scales to billows and cushions in addition to its use in buildings and flower pots.The distribution range of this species includes Solomon Islands to Vanuatu, New Caledonia,Tonga, Samoa be Caroline and Mariana Islands.

Locally known as the “bird’s nest”, this as is common and is widely outed in all forested areas. Of the species that are found in Fiji, A australasicum is first and foremost perhaps familiar to most because of its rosette of spreading fronds that facilitates the trapping and decomposition of humus from plants in the upper canopy. So together with its mass of roots form an effective water holding sponge for many micro-organisms. Interestingly enough a native species of earthworm and even a skink is known to live in this mass. In either its epiphytic or terrestrial growth forms, this species flourishes well in any light exposed area.

Known to locals generally as ota or more specifically lalabe, D. proliferum is a large terrestrial fern. It is usually found along or near stream banks but never in very shaded areas. Of the seven species occurring in Fiji, D. proliferum is distinct in that the fronds is simply pinnate with spiny stipe and veins with at least the basal pair united. D. proliferum is unique in the degree of lobbing of its pinnae is quite variable. Amongst the locals, the young frond of this species is a well known local vegetable delicacy.This species is also known to occur in Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea,Australia,Asia and Africa.

A scandent ground fern common in lowland areas locally known as diqidiqi. Of the 4 species occurring in Fiji, it is the only species with an epiphytic and terrestrial form. As an epiphyte, it is recognized by its dark green pendant fronds on tree trunks but in its terrestrial form, the erect fronds have a yellow green shade with relatively wider pinnae. In any case, this species is distinguishable by its scaly roots and 5 fronds that grow up to 1 m long and 20cm wide but more notably, that the sori occurs at much closer proximity to the rachis than all the other 3 species. Traditionally, it has been singled out that the infusion of its leaves with that of kalabuci (Acalypha spp.) eases delivery during pregnancy.This species is widely distributed throughout the tropics.