Botanical Inventory of the Proposed Tutuila and Ofu Units of the National Park of American Samoa

Abstract

The park is important because of the native vegetation it contains. Some of the best lowland forest remaining in the archipelago is found on Tutuila. It occurs in two main areas, one within the park boundaries between Fagasa and Afono, the other on the northwest Tutuila coast between the villages of Fagamalo and Fagasa. The park is also important for floristic reasons. The native flora of the whole archipelago consists of about 540 species of flowering plants and 230 species of ferns and fern allies. Tutuila is home to 57% of the native flowering plants of the archipelago and 50% of the native fern and fern allies. The park itself contains 39% (209 species) and 35% (81 species), respectively.