Difference between revisions of "Metroxylon amicarum"

Endemic to the Caroline Islands. It was named for the Friendly Islands, now Tonga, from where it was first thought to have descended. It is the only species in the Metroxylon genus which is not hapaxanthic (monocarpic).

The origin of Metroxylon is disputed: Moluccan, Moluccan and New Guinean, or Melanesian. It only occurs in South-East Asia and several island groups of Micronesia and Melanesia. The distribution areas of the seven species in this genus within this area are neighbouring but hardly overlap. Metroxylon sagu is the most widespread and naturalized throughout South-East Asia. The other four occur from the Federated States of Micronesia and the Bismarck Archipelago north of New Guinea to Western Samoa far to the east of it.; - Metroxylon amicarum is found in the Federated States of Micronesia (native in Pohnpei and Truk, probably planted in Nukuoro, and in Kusaie), and cultivated in the Philippines and in Guam.; - Metroxylon salomonense grows in Papua New Guinea (north-eastern New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville Island), throughout the Solomon Islands (e.g. Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz Islands), and in Vanuatu (probably imported).; - Metroxylon warburgii is found in Vanuatu (indigenous), in West Samoa, and in the Fijian depency Rotuma, while its occurrence on Tikopia in Solomon Islands is uncertain.; - Metroxylon vitiense only occurs in Fiji (e.g. on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and Ovalau). (proseanet.org)

Uses: Chuuk Island, Thatch sheets made out of the palm fronds of Rúpwúng are used in roofing and wall construction because they provide the longest lasting thatch. The binding rods, around which the individual leaflets are wrapped, are made from a swamp grass or reed called Woowo (Phragmites karka). The leaves also serve as brooms, and children sometimes make bats and balls out of the leaf base. Wood from the trunk of Rúpwúng is used to make house rafters and floorboards (for raised platforms in sleeping areas). Children sometimes use the leaf stalks (petioles) of the large leaves to make rafts. This attractive palm is a desirable ornamental plant and its hard nut, which is used as a vegetable source for a material resembling ivory, could become a valuable export item in the future. During Japanese times buttons were made from it." (comfsm.fm)

Pohnpei Island, The word for "roof" in Pohnpeian is Oahs, which follows from the fact that the leaves of this palm are the main source of roof thatch on Pohnpei. This attractive native palm is a desirable ornamental plant and its hard nut, as a vegetable source for ivory, may become a valuable export item in the future. Oahs also has traditional value as a source of medicine. There are three native palm tree species on Pohnpei. Oahs is the tallest. Thus, if someone is born of Nanmwarki line (blood from the mother's side, Neinneinioahs Soupeidi), the child will grow up to be as tall, or more importantly, as high in rank as his forebearers ‑‑ an honorific, with symbolic reference to this tall native palm tree. [From web, Uses: Ivory leaves are a main source of roof thatch on Pohnpei. The fruit (white meat) is eaten by pigs. Young leaves and stem cork (phellem) are important sources of local medicine. (comfsm.fm)

“The roots are use for medicine. For example when a person got injured the roots of the Oahs is the best thing for treatment. The stem of this plant is use for floorboards of local huts and also for support of the huts roof." (comfsm.fm)

"The Oahs plant is also considered the most important plant here in Pohnpei. It is an indigenous plant for it has been here for thousands of years. On the other hand, according to the legend there's a story about how Oahs plant came to and its importances. According to the legend ,way back in the early centuries when Pohnpei was built there weren't any tree on Pohnpei. People live in houses of rocks with no roofs. By then there was a lady who came from somewhere and found out that these people live under rocks with no roofs so she went back to her place and sent an Oahs plant by some form of magic. So those people of that time used the leave for roof and the rest of the plant for some other significance uses. Nowadays we still consider Oahs as an important plant for all its important uses. All the parts of the plant have their own special uses like the roots, the stem the fruits, seeds, the flowers and even the leaves. The roots are use for medicine. For example when a person got injured the roots of the Oahs is the best thing for treatment. The stem of this plant is use for floorboards of local huts and also for support of the huts roof. The fruits but especially the white part is use for feeding pigs and shrimp. The small flowers which turn into the fruits is the food for the birds. The leaves are use for local medicine also and thatch roof. The floral bracts of this plant is use for carrying sakau, use for making toy. Also birds like to make their nest on top part of the plant. So to sum up the uses of the plant include treating sicknesses, for house roofs and floors and carrying other heavy things like sakau." (comfsm.fm)

"Huge palm up to 80' tall and leaves up to 30' long and arching. Leaflets grow in a V along the rachis, growing up and drooping at the ends. This species of Metroxylon is NOT monocarpic and its inflorescences come from below the leaves, not apically as in the monocapric species. This palm is one of the more common sources of Ivory Nut, hard palm seeds used for carving. The seed of this palm is quite ornamental- almost like it's been carved already in a criss-cross pattern in a nice red-brown color. Like all Metroxylons, this species has spines in wavy patterns along the leaf bases- highly ornamental (and not TOO viscious). Fast growing palms in the tropics... can't grow them in southern California. Some species of Metroxyon do fine in Miami. This species is from the Caroline Islands in Micronesia." (Geoff Stein)

Conservation: Vulnerable.