Palms   Pritchardia flynnii

Distribution & Habitat: Growing along ridges in Kauai at around 700 metres elevation. Description: A medium sized palm resembling P. hardyi , it has a trunk up to 7 metres, a crown with 10-26 leaves, small leaf blades less than 1 metres long, densely covered underneath with pale brown or grey scales (see Fig 2), and smooth ovoid/ellipsoid fruits which are purple black when ripe, 14-18 mm long and 9-12 mm wide when dry. General: P. flynii was discovered in 1999 and described by Lorence and Gemmill in 2004. Conservation Status: As there are only 350 to 400 palms left in habitat, it is considered threatened. Culture: As yet unknown in cultivation.

Figure 1. P. flynnii

Figure 2. P. flynnii showing underside of leaf and fruit.

References:
"Pritchardia flynii, a new Endemic Species from Kauai", Lorence and Gemmill, Novon 14 2004
Contributed by:	Chris King (Text).
	David H. Lorence, National Tropical Botanical Garden (Figure 1&2).

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