12. Habitat and Geographic Range
The genus Pritchardia consists of 25 species of palms native to the
tropical Pacific Islands. There are as many as 19 endemic species
of Pritchardia in the Hawaiian islands including species categorized as
either endangered, rare or vulnerable. Each Hawaiian island has at least
one distinct Pritchardia species with some islands having distinct species
or forms restricted to individual valleys or mountains.The natural
habitats of the species vary considerably. Pritchardia martii grows in the
Ko'olau Mountains of O'ahu in wet forests at elevations of 1,100 to 2,000
feet. Pritchardia hillebrandii is from the windward coast of Moloka'i and
grows in moist to wet forests from 100 to 1,900 feet. Pritchardia remota is
found only on the cliff bases and terraces of East and West Palm valleys
on Nihoa at elevations from 650 to 2,600 feet.
