Family: Arecaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Pelagodoxa henryana, commonly known as the Marquesas palm, is a rare and striking palm native to the Tubuai Islands and Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. This slow-growing tropical palm is admired for its large, deeply pleated leaves and bold ornamental appearance, giving it a dramatic presence in tropical landscapes and botanical collections. It thrives in warm, humid climates with rich, well-drained soils and is often planted as a specimen palm in gardens, parks, and conservatories. Because of its rarity and attractive foliage, it is especially valued by palm enthusiasts and collectors.

Risks & Threats
Pelagodoxa henryana is considered a low risk species for Hawaii. It is not known to be invasive and has not shown aggressive spreading behavior in tropical environments where it is cultivated. The species grows relatively slowly and typically requires specific growing conditions, which reduces its likelihood of escaping cultivation or forming dense wild populations. As with many ornamental plants, responsible planting and monitoring are encouraged, but current evidence suggests this palm poses little threat to Hawaii’s native ecosystems or tropical island habitats.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in tropical Pacific Islands (but extinct in the wild)
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Seeds dispersed by water and intentionally by people

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness (but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range)
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to grazing animals (contributes to endangerment)
  
• Ornamental
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Long time to reproductive maturity (10+ years)
  
• Large fruit and seeds unlikely to be inadvertently dispersed, or dispersed over long distances