Difference between revisions of "Metroxylon vitiense"

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Uses: Leaves used for thatch.
 
Uses: Leaves used for thatch.
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The most widespread name for Metroxylon vitiense in Fiji is Soga and there is no relationship whatsoever with the similar English word sago which is derived from the Malay-Indonesian sagu. (naturefiji.org), edric.
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Soga is a robust, single-trunked monocarpic palm with a large trunk growing to about 15m tall. It is normally found in dense stands on alluvial poorlydrained plains landward of coastal swamps, although there are also some inland populations adjacent to major rivers. All populations are below 30 m asl, with the exception of that at Nabukelevu which is situated above the gorge at over 100m asl. Monocarpic palms differ from most palms in the manner in which they produce fruit. None are produced during the normal lifespan of the palm, only when it is 15-20 years old does it produce a large flowering structure above its crown on which the fruit develop. As the fruit mature, all the leaves die, the fruit drop and then the adult palm dies. The fruit are large, typically 9 cm in length and float, so they are readily dispersed by water but flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) and large parrots (Prosopeia personata) are also dispersal agents. Rats (Rattus spp.) predate the fruit especially when germinating. The short life span and reproductive method of Soga renders even large populations vulnerable to sudden and dramatic disturbance. Removal of the normal closed canopy can allow weed and creeper competition to prevent germinating and young palms establishing themselves. Drainage dramatically increases the ability of invasive weeds and creepers to outcompete young Soga palms. (naturefiji.org), edric.
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The Soga is endemic to Viti Levu and Ovalau, a landbridge island1. It has always been a species with a very restricted world distribution – a 60 kmcoastline and its hinterland in south east Viti Levu. Presumably its range extended to include Ovalau in the last ice age when sea levels were lower, but leaving Ovalau as a relic population today. Soga was once widespread throughout the Navua and Rewa River Deltas but today only 12 isolated populations survive mainly in pockets on the coastal plains, but with three significant inland populations along the Navua River, refer Figure 1. Only one or two small, doubtfully native, Soga stands survive in the Rewa Delta today but Southern (1986) believed they covered the whole of the Delta before human habitation about 4000 BP, based on an analysis of pollen from swamp cores. The Navua delta population was described in 1862 by Berthold Seemann during his work in Fiji between 1860-1862: “. . . fine groves, several miles in extent were seen by us on various branches and deltas of the Navua River.” Today, only a few scattered trees remain east of the Toquru river. On Ovalau, a single small population is reported to survive and is presumed a native stand based on the former distribution of Soga throughout the Rewa Delta and Ovalau being a land-bridge island connected to Viti Levu during the last ice age. (naturefiji.org), edric.
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
*[http://eunops.org/content/glossary-palm-terms Glossary of Palm Terms]
 
*[http://eunops.org/content/glossary-palm-terms Glossary of Palm Terms]

Revision as of 07:00, 29 October 2013

<google>CH02</google>

Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden, edric.
Metroxylon vitiense
Ho'o05.jpg
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Metroxylon
Species: vitiense
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Oceania.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Soga, Fiji Sago Palm.


Habitat and Distribution

Fiji Islands, and Wallis-Futuna Is. Lowland swamps of the Rain Forest.

Description

Culture

Comments and Curiosities

This is a monocarpic genus.

Conservation: Metroxylon vitiense is rare and endangered.

Uses: Leaves used for thatch.

The most widespread name for Metroxylon vitiense in Fiji is Soga and there is no relationship whatsoever with the similar English word sago which is derived from the Malay-Indonesian sagu. (naturefiji.org), edric.

Soga is a robust, single-trunked monocarpic palm with a large trunk growing to about 15m tall. It is normally found in dense stands on alluvial poorlydrained plains landward of coastal swamps, although there are also some inland populations adjacent to major rivers. All populations are below 30 m asl, with the exception of that at Nabukelevu which is situated above the gorge at over 100m asl. Monocarpic palms differ from most palms in the manner in which they produce fruit. None are produced during the normal lifespan of the palm, only when it is 15-20 years old does it produce a large flowering structure above its crown on which the fruit develop. As the fruit mature, all the leaves die, the fruit drop and then the adult palm dies. The fruit are large, typically 9 cm in length and float, so they are readily dispersed by water but flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) and large parrots (Prosopeia personata) are also dispersal agents. Rats (Rattus spp.) predate the fruit especially when germinating. The short life span and reproductive method of Soga renders even large populations vulnerable to sudden and dramatic disturbance. Removal of the normal closed canopy can allow weed and creeper competition to prevent germinating and young palms establishing themselves. Drainage dramatically increases the ability of invasive weeds and creepers to outcompete young Soga palms. (naturefiji.org), edric.

The Soga is endemic to Viti Levu and Ovalau, a landbridge island1. It has always been a species with a very restricted world distribution – a 60 kmcoastline and its hinterland in south east Viti Levu. Presumably its range extended to include Ovalau in the last ice age when sea levels were lower, but leaving Ovalau as a relic population today. Soga was once widespread throughout the Navua and Rewa River Deltas but today only 12 isolated populations survive mainly in pockets on the coastal plains, but with three significant inland populations along the Navua River, refer Figure 1. Only one or two small, doubtfully native, Soga stands survive in the Rewa Delta today but Southern (1986) believed they covered the whole of the Delta before human habitation about 4000 BP, based on an analysis of pollen from swamp cores. The Navua delta population was described in 1862 by Berthold Seemann during his work in Fiji between 1860-1862: “. . . fine groves, several miles in extent were seen by us on various branches and deltas of the Navua River.” Today, only a few scattered trees remain east of the Toquru river. On Ovalau, a single small population is reported to survive and is presumed a native stand based on the former distribution of Soga throughout the Rewa Delta and Ovalau being a land-bridge island connected to Viti Levu during the last ice age. (naturefiji.org), edric.


External Links

References

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Special thanks to palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.

  • IMAGE GALLERY

  • Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.

  • Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden, edric.

  • Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.

  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL. Photo by Dr. Scott Zona.


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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