About

Pritchardia remota, the Nīhoa pritchardia, Nīhoa fan palm, or Loulu, is a species of palm endemic on the island of Nīhoa in the state of Hawaii, and later transplanted to the island of Laysan. It is a smaller tree than most other species of Pritchardia, typically reaching only 4–5 metres (13–16 ft) tall and with a trunk diameter of 15 centimetres (5.9 in). It is the only type of tree on the island and used to be abundant. In 1885 a wildfire ravaged the island, destroying most of the palms. Only about 700 of these trees remain, making the species endangered but numbers are slowly increasing. The palm is being cultivated in botanical gardens.

Though it is impossible to mistake P. remota for any other species in its natural habitat, it can be discerned from other Pritchardia species by its wavy leaves, its short and hairless inflorescences, and its tiny, spherical fruits.

Where it grows

A 1996 survey found a total of four plant populations of 680 palms on the island. Groves of P. remota palms grow in coastal mesic valley depressions in two valleys on Nīhoa: The largest population grows in the West Palm Valley, while the three smaller populations are found in the East Palm Valley. Up to 50% of the pollen found in soil cores taken from lowland sites in the Main Islands comes from Pritchardia palms similar to this species. This is because these palms were once abundant there until around the year 1000, when the human population grew dramatically. The trees were cleared for agriculture and used for timber and firewood.

Other Pritchardia plants

Hawai'i pritchardia · Nihoa Fan Palm · Kilauea pritchardia · Mt. Eke pritchardia · Loulu · Makaleha pritchardia · Waianae Range pritchardia · Lanai pritchardia · Lo'ulu · Limahuli Valley pritchardia · Molokai pritchardia · Alakai Swamp pritchardia