Which plants grow naturally or are cultivated in Tokelau?
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Tokelau features dense vegetation consisting of approximately 40 plant species, including various Polynesian trees and shrubs. The inhabitants rely on subsistence agriculture, cultivating a variety of crops to meet their needs.1
The plants grown in Tokelau include:
- Coconuts: These are the most significant crop, serving as the territory's only cash crop for copra production.1
- Subsistence Crops: Residents cultivate taro in specialized excavated gardens that are fertilized with leaf compost, as well as breadfruit, bananas, and pawpaws.21
- Pandanus: This plant is also commonly grown on the atolls.21
- Tauanave: These trees are specifically cultivated on selected islets to provide timber for canoes, housing, and other domestic requirements.1
The coconut palm is also notable for its traditional use in creating rain catchments, where hollowed-out trunks are used to collect water.1