Vilaito (Neoveitchia storckii) is a solitary, moderately stout palm with a light coloured trunk on an expanded base.

The trunk normally grows up to 12 m in height and is stout, at about 25 cm in diameter.

Also known as:

Local Names: Vilaito

Vilaito (Neoveitchia storckii) map
Vilaito (Neoveitchia storckii) map

Description

Vilaito is a solitary, moderately stout palm with a light coloured trunk on an expanded base. The trunk normally grows up to 12 m in height and is stout, at about 25 cm in diameter. However, it may grow up to 20 m in height when growing under a high canopy of plantation mahogany. This palm has a full, leafy canopy of 12-15 fronds per crown; the fronds up to 5 m in length with heavy leaflets and a characteristic lateral twist to 90o. The crown shaft is distinctive being incompletely formed and is a glossy dark green to black. A bulky inflorescence arises below the crown shaft, initially white before turning olive green. The fruit mature only on the basal third of the inflorescence, the remainder forming conspicuous white tassels. The fruit are large, up to 5 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter, and are dull red when mature.

Distribution

This palm was formerly believed to be restricted to a small area of secondary forest near Naqali in central Vitilevu, but Dylan Fuller and associates showed that it was, in fact, more widespread with a discontinuous population, covering more than 50 km2 on the western side of the Rewa River. More recent observations have found it on the eastern bank of the Rewa River too, surviving in the extensive mahogany plantations of Nukurua, Tailevu, and to the west some way up the Waidina River.

Habitat Ecology and Behaviour

Vilaito is an emergent palm which grows in the alluvial plains of the middle Rewa River and the nearby rolling foothills. Much, if not all of this, is secondary forest and undergoing steady clearing for agriculture while the eastern bank of the Rewa is a major mahogany plantation. Neoveitchia survives quite well in open areas and degraded forest.

Threats

In 1971, Suliana Siwatibau and her co-workers found this palm only as a single population in an area of less than 2 ha. At the time it was being attacked by the rhinoceros beetle which had largely decimated coconut plantations on Vitilevu. The beetle was subsequently controlled, but not eliminated, by the release of a biological control agent in the mid-1970s and this may have allowed Neoveitchia to recover to its present, safer conservation status. However, recent observations in Suva reveal that this species is very vulnerable to the rhinoceros beetle and when it is severely attacked it invariably dies. Indiscriminate land clearing is otherwise the most serious threat to this palm in it is limited range and more intensive agriculture, clearing for pasture or continued conversion of forest to mahogany plantation are serious threats to this palm in the wild.

Conservation Status

The late Dick Phillips ensured that this palm is conserved in botanical gardens around the world. However, in Fiji, there is no protected area containing these palms and in the wild, its conservation status is very insecure as it is found in lowland forest areas in the lower Rewa river catchment and most of these forests have already been cleared for alternative use and the remaining area is being steadily cleared for agriculture or pasture. The identification of a population which can be protected is a high priority.

Remarks and Cultural Significance

The late Dick Phillips ensured that this palm is conserved in botanical gardens around the world. However, in Fiji, there is no protected area containing these palms and in the wild, its conservation status is very insecure as it is found in lowland forest areas in the lower Rewa river catchment and most of these forests have already been cleared for alternative use and the remaining area is being steadily cleared for agriculture or pasture. The identification of a population which can be protected is a high priority.

References

Dowe (1989);
Fuller (1997);
Gorman and Siwatibau (1975);
Phillips and Dowe (1995);
Watling (2005).

Front Page Photo: Dick Watling