A Trio of Pritchardia pacifica
These three Pritchardia pacifica palms appear to be jockeying for highest position. They are less than ten years old, a neighbor to the rear right of the clump is of the same age. Recent literature on the genus Pritchardia by Donald Hodel alludes to the likelihood that this species, Pritchardia pacifica, native to Tonga, and Pritchardia thurstonii, native to Fiji, are the genetic ancestors of the twenty four species of Hawaiian Pritchardia, or Loulu, as they are called by the Hawaiians.
My experience with these palms of the genus Pritchardia has been that these two are much more resilient to adverse conditions, pests and disease than those species native to these islands. But, the Hawaiian species are much better at weathering colder climates.
This species, Pritchardia pacifica, is a beauty at the adolescent stage, early trunking, before inflorescence. The leaves are at their maximum size and form at this stage, their size and shape alter somewhat as the tree gets older, becoming more spade-shaped and smaller when the tree gets taller.
Pa Kanu Ola, Garden of Life Essence 
3 Comments
Object: Request permission to reproduce illustrations
Dear Sir,
I am writing to seek your consideration and permission to reproduce the here above 5 illustrations found on the web at the following site (https://hanapalms.wordpress.com/category/my-palms/ ) links to 4 images of Pritchardia palm species.
Name species, reference of the pictures, and copy of the picture are given on the bottom of this letter.
In order to make available information on palm populations’ threats worldwide, the document, in French, is to be published in an open access IRD (http://www.ird.fr/ ) publication entitled:
Title in French: “Palmiers menacés – Situation, causes et remèdes”
The complete pdf will be proposed freely on IRD’s website http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr
To this end, I will appreciate if your permission could be given freely. Please let me know if any procedures should be followed.
Best Regards
Bernard Malaurie
Pritchardia kaalae_ (hanapalms.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/10-26-06-pritchardia-kaalae2.jpg);
Pritchardia maideniana_(hanapalms.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/10-26-06-pritchardia-affinis-var-gracilis1.jpg) ;
Pritchardia napaliensis_ (hanapalms.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/10-26-06-pritchardia-napaliensis-w-seed-bracts-kahanu1.jpg);
Pritchardia forbesiana_(hanapalms.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/apr-19-06-p-forbesiana-0131.jpg);
Pritchardia remota_(hanapalms.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/10-26-06-pritchardia-remota1.jpg)
Sorry it has taken so long for a response. I have been preoccupied with a vacation rental business that is in need of attention at this time You are welcome to use anything I have posted on my blog site.
Dear Bernard,
I have prepared a photographic discourse on the Native Hawaiian Pritchardia species. It may be of interest to you; the photographs are mine and the information was gleaned from the publications I list at the end. I will attach the link for your use.
Aloha,
Bill