The French Polynesian Islands are home to a wide variety of plant life. Many flowering plants call the islands their home, including the heliconia, frangipani, and the orchid. Many tropical fruits are also grown on the islands. Watermelons, limes, and papaya are local favorites. The most iconic fruit of the islands would probably be the noni. It is a local oddity with the appearance of a potato and it carries with it a pungent odor. Polynesia's economy is partially based on the growing of vanilla, making it another common plant to see growing on the islands. Coconuts are also widely grown for their many useful practical uses. The plants of New Caledonia are largely unchanged from the plants of the ancient world. One such plant is the Cook Pine, which grows in the sandy soils of the island. Amborella Trichopoda, the only member of the oldest living plant lineage, only grows on the soils of New Caledonia. There are 3,332 different plant species recorded on New Caledonia. 2,551 of those species are found only on New Caledonia. Habitats on the islands are threatened due to logging and fires, unfortunately. Yams are a prominent part of Kanak culture. They make up one of the staples of food on the island, and there is a harvest celebration for yams put on by the Kanak people. As you can see from the photos below, the natural beauty of the local flora is readily apparent. It is quite the unique variety of both ancient trees and colorful florals. Growing vanilla is a large part of French Polynesia's economy. Also, growing yams and other staple crops is how most islanders get the food they need to survive. It seems the plant life of the colonies is almost as important to the colonies' culture as the islands themselves. Sources: http://www.govisittahiti.com/French-Polynesia/flora-fauna.asp http://www.thetahititraveler.com/general-information/flore-faune/plants-vegetals/ https://newcaledoniaplants.com/ http://s262.photobucket.com/user/7_Heads/media/Heliconia/08AUG08046.jpg.html?t=1219952729 https://img0.etsystatic.com/131/1/7183878/il_fullxfull.1002648780_fvp5.jpg https://www.tastingkauai.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/orcgids-200x300.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Amborella_trichopoda_(3065969750).jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4a/92/de/4a92ded2f7dbb8e5c6989844c8e24f69.jpg
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Tom HodekHi! My name is Thomas Hodek and I am the author of this site. This is an active project for an English course I am enrolled in. I am an American student and award-winning actor. My goal with this site is to spread awareness of the plight of the French colonies, which are not yet autonomous. A side note: This blog is very much a work in progress, so be patient with it! Archives
November 2016
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